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The Calculating Stars cover art

The Calculating Stars

By: Mary Robinette Kowal
Narrated by: Mary Robinette Kowal
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Summary

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.

What listeners say about The Calculating Stars

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    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting idea shame about the execution

The concept of an alternative history of space exploration and the fact that it is based in the 1950s and explores racism and the treatment of women in science and engineering had there been an global astronaut programme is intriguing. However, in this audiobook the author’s somewhat feeble attempts at narration and, in particular, her diabolical attempts at French or British accents somewhat detracts from the story itself. At times it has more if a flavour if Mills and Boon about it than Jules Verne. I know it’s about space but sex scenes that refer, euphemistically refer to rocketry is somewhat crass. Hire an actress, Audible, and re-record it.

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12 people found this helpful

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What a waste of time!

Cringeworthy and embarrassingly bad sex talk, shallow, implausible characters and serious social issues that are reduced to backdrop or scenery.
The fact that this novel was given the Nebula Award is a mistery to me.

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9 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Disappointing

Full of good intentions, climate change, equality and so forth but was more a book on social commentary than true science fiction.

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4 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Strong lead character...

... but too often is weaker than projected. Although I get it, the discontinuity detracts. Ultimately worthy but unsatisfactory. Great depth and study, but somehow on its head. Alas, I shan’t be listening to more.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Made me cry a lot in public. Super embarrassing.

MRK makes her book come to life such that I was having panic attacks with Elma, sad crying whenever anything bad happened, happy crying whenever anything good happened... basically this book left me a complete mess.

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4 people found this helpful

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Uplifting (pun intended)

Following Dr Elma York from the day she escapes the impact of an extinction-level meteorite, through her time as a computer at the now-international NASA, and her fight to allow women and POC to become astronauts. I normally like my heroines to be infallible, but Dr York is humanised by Southern-feminine style self-effacement (we only find out halfway through the book that she holds two doctorates) and a crippling social anxiety. A very enjoyable and uplifting listen.

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3 people found this helpful

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Tedious

Tedious book. I know it won awards but I just don't get how. It read like a cute western more than sci-fi and a lot of the content was so, well, domestic. I ended up skimming to see if I was missing much but I wasn't. I just couldn't finish it Sorry Mary.

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1 person found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Bad performance

Read a lot of good things about this book. Unfortunayely the performance (by the author) is so bad it's distracting.

Everyone, bar the main character, has a ridiculous sounding, forced voice, especially the 'Men' and 'Black People'. it's quite cringey at times.

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1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Great!

I’m a sucker for an alternative history story and this one grabbed me. It set in the past, but it also feels like an old fashioned story from the golden age of science fiction.

The author narrates her own book and does a great job apart from the English accent.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful story, superb narration

This is not my usual genre, but wow! What a fantastic book! No unnecessary violence or sex. It was an easy listen and I would recommend.

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