Book Review: The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal

Genre(s): Science Fiction

Book Synopsis:

On a cold spring night in 1952, a huge meteorite fell to earth and obliterated much of the east coast of the United States, including Washington D.C. The ensuing climate cataclysm will soon render the earth inhospitable for humanity, as the last such meteorite did for the dinosaurs. This looming threat calls for a radically accelerated effort to colonize space, and requires a much larger share of humanity to take part in the process.

Elma York’s experience as a WASP pilot and mathematician earns her a place in the International Aerospace Coalition’s attempts to put man on the moon, as a calculator. But with so many skilled and experienced women pilots and scientists involved with the program, it doesn’t take long before Elma begins to wonder why they can’t go into space, too.

Elma’s drive to become the first Lady Astronaut is so strong that even the most dearly held conventions of society may not stand a chance against her.

Review:

This book intrigued me for a few reasons. The alternate history presented is really interesting. It focuses on aspects of the space program in the Apollo days, but from an entirely different perspective. When there’s an abrupt end to the Cold War due to the meteorite, the push to leave planet Earth isn’t to beat the Soviets. It’s to save the species.

But since it’s set in the 1950s, the main character is met with societal pushback at every level because she’s a woman. It doesn’t matter that she has a PhD, or that she was a WASP pilot every bit as capable (or more so) than her male counterparts. She’s denied the astronaut training program again and again because she’s a woman. There are a number of black women who meet the qualifications as well, and because they’re not only women, but people of color, they go through even more hurdles.

I know it was how most of society thought in that era, but it aggravates me to no end. Reading this book was a pointed reminder of how far we’ve come, but also how far we still need to go. Things are better, but nowhere near perfect in terms of equality. And that needs to change.

But back to the book…

I really enjoyed this read, but have one minor complaint. I think it ended a little abruptly (and it didn’t help that there was a bunch of stuff after the acknowledgements; the book ends at what my ebook said was the 90% mark.) After doing a quick check, I learned this was book 1 in a series, so I can forgive the ending a bit.

The alternate history presented was fascinating, and I loved how the science was integrated into the story without becoming overwhelming. And space has always been a subject that intrigued me, even though I know I’ll never be able to go there myself (yay, genetics.)

This was a great book.

Author website: maryrobinettekowal.com

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