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Comments (28)

Community comments are the opinions of contributing users. These comments do not represent the opinions of the Edmonton Public Library.
What did you think about this title?
1 to 25 of 28 items
Dec 26, 2022xiaojunbpl12 rated this title 1.5 out of 5 stars
Once a meteorite fell with its immediate aftermath, it could hardly hold my attention. Scanned through corny scripts of a boring drama, I'm a wrong reader to be entertained by a book trying hard to please with political correctness, and…
Nov 01, 2022AlteredStaite rated this title 1 out of 5 stars
There will be people who love this book. Just not my thing. I'm not a fan of the military, space exploration or the good old little girls making it in a good old big boys world. I'm sure it's thrilling for others but I tossed it after…
Aug 19, 2022mimosa13 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Just finished the third volume and hoping for number four. Borrowed from my daughter when I was waiting for more library books and had nothing to read. Didn't think I would like it, but I couldn't stop reading. Number four please...
Apr 04, 2022omidjavadi rated this title 1 out of 5 stars
Honestly, this book was so disappointing. The premise of a space faring focused planet in the aftermath of an extinction event sounds fantastic, but it's utterly wasted. It's not even really part of the story. The focus ends up being on…
Nov 16, 2021ploverwing rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. Perhaps I'm easily entertained, because wow there are some really negative reviews here! I'd read the Lady Astronaut of Mars and wanted to see what the prequels looked like, and I wasn't disappointed.
Jun 30, 2021ghalbertmck rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
The book reminds me of some of Harry Turtledove's alt. history work, but keeping focus on a single character. Born in '48, a lot of the period situations ring true to me, although the racial tension in the book is less than I remember from…
Sep 18, 2020ChrisMcMil rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
The background premise (major meteorite strike in 1952) is interesting but is not adequately expanded upon. The early and accelerated space race that ensues is not even remotely credible as an effort to "colonize space" in the time-frame…
Aug 30, 2020gopetersons rated this title 1.5 out of 5 stars
This was a book with a promising premise, and ties to KC, which I was enthused about. However, the book doesn't do much with either of those things. It is not well written, there are way too many head scratching moments, and the dialog is…
Aug 30, 2020
Hugo 2019
Aug 17, 2020
In the early 1950s, a meteorite strikes Earth causing cataclysmic damage and plunging the world straight toward an extinction event. Non-communist countries from around the world unite in a space race to save humanity. A female pilot and…
Jul 07, 2020xiccarph rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I finally got around to reading this series, after keeping on the back-burner for a few years. Yes, they move at a slower pace than a lot of today's speculative fiction. Much of the content will seem quaint to any reader who didn't start…
May 11, 2020JCLHebahA rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Another great speculative alternate history from one of my favorite authors. Hits the right blend of crunchy sci fi (Kowal did a ton of research with NASA, and it shows) with the softer, human aspect well represented with a sympathetic…
Apr 17, 2020Jaseryx rated this title 2 out of 5 stars
I was over-hyped on this one. For 'feminism meets the space race', it was so, so, so much of a picture of the inside of a woman with a severe anxiety disorder's mind. What got me to read the series was the fantastic premise, of which…
Apr 04, 2020Everyoneelses rated this title 1.5 out of 5 stars
I can only describe this book as a mutant child of "The Hidden Figures" and "Twilight" that should not have been allowed to live. I wanted to claw my eyes out while reading that. Do yourself a favour and skip on reading this one.
Nov 08, 2019RyanR_KCMO rated this title 2 out of 5 stars
As an alternate history this book was fantastic. The main characters development was glacial but inspiring and rewarding. This is a great book for anyone who wants to be frustrated with how idiotic the treatment of women was in the 1960s…
Oct 04, 2019
Love those alternate history stories. Check out the grapic novel based on the hit 1970s TV show: "SPACE 1999" while waiting for this one. Available from SPL
Oct 04, 2019NedSu rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
While its premise of alternate history and extinction event meteorite strike is science fiction, the story of astronauts is decidedly based in fact. The author acknowledges a debt of experts who proofed the details, but she told the story…
Aug 05, 2019IndyPL_SteveB rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
An award-winning science fiction novel with some science and some fiction, but with very little “science fiction.” It’s an alternate history of the space program, set in the 1950’s and with an early feminist twist. This is more of a…
Aug 05, 2019IndyPL_SteveB rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
An award-winning science fiction novel with some science and some fiction, but with very little “science fiction.” It’s an alternate history of the space program, set in the 1950’s and with an early feminist twist. This is more of a…
Jul 25, 2019RandomLibrarian rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Review excerpt: "The main thing you need to know about 'The Calculating Stars' is that it has a slow pace. The other thing you need to know is that it is feminist and nerdy. This alternate-history novel by Mary Robinette Kowal tells a…
Apr 17, 2019Hillsboro_ElenaG rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
This book may be an alternate history, envisioning a world where a meteorite smashed into the Atlantic Ocean in the 1950s and wiped out the entire US Eastern seaboard, causing global climate shifts that could cause the earth to be…
Jan 03, 2019JessicaGma rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I mean the year is still young, but this was a FANTASTIC book and will be my favourite for a while. It really caught the 1950s well, and the struggles of Elma to be all she can be despite her anxiety, and the zeitgeist of the time. …
Nov 07, 2018Stargirl_0 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Very engrossing, detailed piece of historical fiction that kept me rooting for the main character, as well as others in the story. Loved her writing style and use of 50s vernacular, customs, and norms which allowed me to stay in that time…
Oct 22, 2018LibrarianSmiles rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Science fiction meets Hidden Figures in this engrossing alternate history of the race to colonize the Moon.
Sep 10, 2018Dtrasler rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This was an awesome book. The protagonist is brave, resourceful and determined, but she also makes mistakes and has to admit them. The author does an astonishing job of showing the obstacles some people have to overcome to be considered…