Review: Very Enjoyable Near-Term Space Opera
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 29, 2012
This book is set in present time and uses current technology to present a story about an attempt to rejuvenate manned space exploration. American space manned exploration has languished due to NASA budget cuts, bureaucracy and general misdirection of effort. Exploration by the former Soviet Union has fallen by the wayside due to its collapse. A grounded astronaut and a billionaire looking for a worthwhile cause begin an effort to restore manned space activities, both as a business and as a source of inspiration for the future.This premise is grounded in detailed information about former and present space programs and is believable enough to support a good story, both from scientific and fiscal considerations. It also addresses the impact that government bureaucracy and politics have on the effort. It presents a less-than-flattering picture of some agencies and governments, especially in the US. The theme of bureaucratic and political meddling is hammered home a little too often, but believably.Overall, it has the same flavor as earlier sci-fi earlier stories by Murray Leinster ("Space Platform", "Space Tug")and Arthur Clarke ("Fountains of Paradise", development of a synchronous tower). At times, the ease of solving the problems of a difficult space voyage strains believability a little, but the story line is still enjoyable. The story flows along with plenty of action from start to finish.The biggest differences between this book and most current sci-fi are:The plot requires no "magic" pseudo-technology.It is based on optimism about the possibility of a better future, rather than gloom and doom.It does not depend on explicit sex and gratuitous profanityto cover up a weak plot and story.It is not pre- or post-apocalyptic.If you like old-fashioned space opera stories with an imaginative use of near-term technology, you will like this one.