The Fated Sky

May 20, 2022 5:36 AM

Of course the noted Lady Astronaut Elma York would like to go, but there's a lot riding on whoever the International Aerospace Coalition decides to send on this historic -- but potentially very dangerous -- mission? Could Elma really leave behind her husband and the chance to start a family to spend several years traveling to Mars? And with the Civil Rights movement taking hold all over Earth, will the astronaut pool ever be allowed to catch up, and will these brave men and women of all races be treated equitably when they get there?

"The worst tendencies of white feminism—in space." - Kirkus Reviews

posted by Etrigan (4 comments total)

I think the book (if not the character) is pretty self aware about 'the worst tendencies of white feminism', and I think the book(s) show a journey towards being a bit better. She's not magically perfect from a 2020s lens, because that would be bizarre.

The South African in space was... not so fun, but helped to remind me that we were in an alternate timeline where the 60s just didn't happen (in a poor metaphor kind of way).
posted by Acari at 7:09 AM on May 20, 2022 [1 favorite]

I completely missed this book - I'd gotten Calculating Stars and Relentless Moon from various Hugo award voter packets but this one didn't get nominated so I missed it. I figured it out when my wife was listening to the audio books and said she was listening to the second book and I mentioned something from the third book (thinking it was second) and we were very confused for a few minutes.
posted by rmd1023 at 8:10 AM on May 20, 2022 [1 favorite]

I mostly remember the detailed and realistic account of the, uh, horrific in-space disaster.
posted by rhamphorhynchus at 5:51 PM on May 22, 2022 [1 favorite]

I liked this book well enough, but don't have a lot to say about it other than that.
posted by kyrademon at 12:25 PM on May 24, 2022