Marco's Reviews > The Lady Astronaut of Mars

The Lady Astronaut of Mars by Mary Robinette Kowal
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it was amazing
bookshelves: sci-fi-awards, sci-fi, favorites

I read this novelette shortly after it was announced that it won the 2014 Hugo award. I had really high expectations, and, because of it, I was expecting to be disappointed. This turned out to be one of the best novelette I have ever read in my life. In just 32 pages it creates such well rounded, real characters, that you can't avoid to relate with. The main character, Elma, is a senior astronaut dreaming to fly again between the stars. One day an opportunity opens up, and she can fulfill her dream. The only problem is, she'll be gone for three years, and her husband has less than a year to live.
This is an adroitly crafted, powerfully moving short story, that manages to touch complex themes like aging, disabilities, and the difficult balance between the pursuit of our own dreams and family, with extreme honesty, respect, and sensibility.
I strongly recommend it to everybody, not only to sci-fi fans.
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Reading Progress

August 17, 2014 – Started Reading
August 17, 2014 – Shelved
August 17, 2014 – Finished Reading

Comments Showing 1-9 of 9 (9 new)

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message 1: by John (new)

John Very cool, I'll have to check it out. Speaking of Mars, I just read, "Blue Remembered Earth," where much of the story takes place on either Phobos or Mars, and is the first of a trilogy. Very good, I thought, but I also love Alistair Reynolds. Some people in the book club found it to be a bit too dense with description and failed to resolve certain questions (but they also didn't realize it was the first book of three, haha)


Marco I want to join your sf book club. Is it open to everybody?


Marco PS thanks for the book recommendation!


message 4: by John (new)

John Of course you can! Actually, I'm in two. Well, four, but two of those are comic book clubs. haha The non-comic sci-fi clubs are a gay one that meets on the second Sunday of each month at 5pm at Borderlands Cafe on Valencia (the next book is "Lockstep" by Karl Schroeder, for 9/14); and then the non-gay, or not-specifically-gay, group meets on the third Sunday at 6pm, also at Borderlands (and they're reading "Implied Spaces" by Walter John Williams, for 9/21). I also downloaded "Lady Astronaut" and am looking forward to reading it!


Marco let me know what you think!


message 6: by John (new)

John Hey, I read "The Lady Astronaut of Mars" and I really enjoyed it. I liked how it was kind of old fashioned and futuristic at the same time. And there was a lot of feeling worked into the story. You got to feel her excitement and despair, her passions for both space and her husband; but then also the side that resented him just a little bit (but then fortunately realized she was being unfair). It was such a nice story, one of those that is perfect on its own, and yet I absolutely wanted to know more. haha Thanks for the suggestion!


Marco I'm so glad you liked it! I was really impressed by it and I'm now planning to read her other novelettes and books. we should catch up!


message 8: by John (new)

John Do you think you might go to the book clubs? "Lockstep," the one for the 9/14 club was okay, but kind of read like a young adult book (not bad, but just needed some fleshing out). I'm just starting the book for the 9/21 club, "Implied Spaces," so I have no opinion yet.

How have things been with you? Did you hear about Ken getting married next year?! Awwww.


Marco I am replying you via email.


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