Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Tom Doherty Associates
Description
"The Art of Space Travel" by Nina Allan is a science fiction novelette. In 2047, a first manned mission to Mars ended in tragedy. Thirty years later, a second expedition is preparing to launch. As housekeeper of the hotel where two of the astronauts will give their final press statements, Emily finds the mission intruding upon her thoughts more and more. Emily's mother, Moolie, has a message to give her, but Moolie's memories are fading. As the astronauts' visit draws closer, the unearthing of a more personal history is about to alter Emily's world forever. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
User reviews
LibraryThing member AlanPoulter
A one-way mission to Mars has failed and another is about to launch, and an employee in in the hotel used for publicity discovers a possible connection be her mother other and one of the first crew...
LibraryThing member lavaturtle
This novelette did a nice job of worldbuilding and exploring the narrator's personal journey. The choice to put hotel staff, rather than astronauts or other famous people, at the center of the story was interesting. I would have liked to hear more about the past space missions mentioned, though.
LibraryThing member Petroglyph
This science fiction novelette was a nominee for the Hugo Award in 2017, and I thought it was worth my time.
Earth is readying itself for a manned Mars mission. The previous attempt failed (the ship exploded during liftoff), and even this time the astronauts will be going on a suicide mission:
I’d have wanted perhaps a little more meat, but this was not a bad read at all.
Earth is readying itself for a manned Mars mission. The previous attempt failed (the ship exploded during liftoff), and even this time the astronauts will be going on a suicide mission:
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their task is to prepare a base for future use, but there won’t be a return voyage. The neat thing is that this story isn’t really concerned with any of that: the foreground is taken up by the person running the hotel where the astronauts are going to stay. Preparing the hotel staff, handling the press, taking care of her increasingly senile mother. I’d have wanted perhaps a little more meat, but this was not a bad read at all.
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LibraryThing member crtsjffrsn
After the first mission intended to put people on Mars was a tragic failure, it has taken thirty years for people to be ready to try again. As a hotel housekeeper, Emily's only connection to the mission is the fact that two of the mission's astronauts will be coming to her hotel to participate in
When I read science fiction, I admit that I do like the speculative elements of the story. But what is most important is the character development. Who are these people? Why should I care about them and what is happening to them? How are they going to overcome the obstacles that are thrown in their way? And Nina Allan definitely delivers in all of those areas. Although this is novelette length, readers get an opportunity to see in to Emily's world--and to be right there with her when everything changes in ways she never expected or imagined.
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the final press conference before the launch. But Emily's mother, Moolie, has something that Emily needs to know. And that something may just set Emily's entire world on its head.When I read science fiction, I admit that I do like the speculative elements of the story. But what is most important is the character development. Who are these people? Why should I care about them and what is happening to them? How are they going to overcome the obstacles that are thrown in their way? And Nina Allan definitely delivers in all of those areas. Although this is novelette length, readers get an opportunity to see in to Emily's world--and to be right there with her when everything changes in ways she never expected or imagined.
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Awards
Hugo Award (Nominee — Novelette — 2017)
Locus Award (Finalist — Novelette — 2017)
Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award (Finalist — 2017)
Niels Klim prisen (Nominee — 2017)
Original publication date
2016
ISBN
9780765390653
DDC/MDS
| Fic SF Allan |