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The Calculating Stars

A Lady Astronaut Novel

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The Calculating Stars

By: Mary Robinette Kowal
Narrated by: Mary Robinette Kowal
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About this listen

Mary Robinette Kowal's science fiction debut, The Calculating Stars, explores the premise behind her award-winning Lady Astronaut of Mars.

Den of Geek - Best Science Fiction Books of June 2018

Omnivoracious - Fifteen Highly Anticipated SFF Reads for Summer 2018

On a cold spring night in 1952, a huge meteorite fell to earth and obliterated much of the East Coast of the US, including Washington, DC. 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.

©2018 Mary Robinette Kowal (P)2018 Audible, Inc. Hard Science Fiction Science Fiction Space Exploration Fiction Space Interstellar Heartfelt Feel-Good Transportation Aviation Air Force

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All stars
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I finished this book pretty fast, it was good. I wanna give it 9/10 stars.

A great book - recommended

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The term ‘lady astronaut’ concerned me however I needn’t have been worried. It becomes apparent fairly quickly how appropriate the ‘lady astronaut’ series title is.

As a story it’s a fascinating journey mixing the alternative history and dystopian genres perfectly.

This book is an absolute joy to listen to - even with the outrageous occasional French accent! :)


Beautifully written and beautiful read

Was worried about the ‘lady astronaut’ term

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What a wonderful book. Exploring the opportunity of space from the view of a woman, a Jew, a fallible, anxious and desperately determined protagonist. The glorious, human, hopeful narration does such justice to a brilliant text. I finished it in tears!

The best audiobook I’ve ever heard!

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Really enjoyable book, made even greater by Kowal's performance - the voice acting is spectacular! Enjoyed the story and the way it depicts and critically engages with both misogyny and racism.

awesome performance of great book

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Just like a rocket it has a bombastic start with energy that peters out by the end. Still worth a listen and will continue with the series

Captivating start with a lackluster finish

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uplifting, wry, intelligent and life affirming.
I have searched a very long time for authors in any genre who capture humanity and hope in such a succinct and imaginative style.

This easily is the equal to Susanna Clarke, Iain Banks, Doris Lessing or Ursula K. Le Guin.

Read it

A love letter to humanity

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Having failed to keep going with one of the author's previous books I was concerned that I wouldn't gel with this either but the story and the narration were both excellent and I'm really looking forward to the rest of the series.

Enjoyed it way more than expected

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I am embarrassed to have only just read/listened to this. I was put off by the series title and now I feel thoroughly stupid.

If you like relatable characters, a great story, really great historically adjacent commentary or a fantastic opening sequence then this is your book.

Peachy keen!

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I am totally in awe of Mary Robinette Kowal. Not only has she turned in a well deserved Hugo winning novel that pushes every emotional button in its roller-coaster ride of a story, but she narrates it superlatively, giving life to the already abundantly well-rounded characters.

Set in the fifties on an alternative Earth which has been stricken by a cataclysmic meteorite strike off the East coast of the USA, the novel tells the story of humanity's race against time to establish off planet colonies to ensure the survival of the species. Set against this backdrop is the struggle of a woman to become an astronaut by overcoming prejudice against her sex and religion.

Listening to it threw me from emotional highs to sobbing lows as I lived every moment. I can't recommended this too highly.

It quite simply doesn't get better than this

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Wow! This was so different and so good and so unexpected and so masterfully done that I am downloading the second book without hesitation. This is a great story told from the unusual perspective of, a Jewish female maths wiz living in a fictional 1950’s America. This plucky young woman works hard to overcome crippling insecurities and misogyny in a fight to put women in space. The stakes are incredibly high, but her struggle feels real. It has the charm of early sci-fi novels from the golden age, that sucked me right in. After a year of reading hard core sci-fi and space opera this was a completely refreshing read. Loved it!
All in all, a warm, charming and well told story.

An unexpected journey to a future past

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