I wound up with extra copies of both The Calculating Stars and Fated Sky by Mary Robinette Kowal. This series was part of the Tor Books FearlessWomen Blog tour, and it was easy to see why! It’s an alternate history with lady astronauts pushing gender and racial boundaries while trying to save the human race. I loved the first one, which features a number of strong women characters paving the way to space and am looking forward to the second! So my extras mean I am excited to spread the joy that it this series to someone else.
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About the Author
Mary Robinette Kowal was the 2008 recipient of the Campbell Award for Best New Writer and her short story “For Want of a Nail” won the 2011 Hugo. Her stories have appeared in Strange Horizons, Asimov’s, and several Year’s Best anthologies. She is the author of Shades of Milk and Honey and Glamour in Glass (Tor 2012).
Mary, a professional puppeteer and voice actor, has performed for LazyTown (CBS), the Center for Puppetry Arts, Jim Henson Pictures and founded Other Hand Productions. Her designs have garnered two UNIMA-USA Citations of Excellence, the highest award an American puppeteer can achieve. She also records fiction for authors such as Kage Baker, Cory Doctorow and John Scalzi.
Mary lives in Chicago with her husband Rob and over a dozen manual typewriters.
About the Books
The Calculating Stars (Lady Astronaut, #1) by Mary Robinette KowalAlso by this author: Ghost Talkers, Shades of Milk and Honey
Published by Tor Books on July 3, 2018
Pages: 432
The Fated Sky (Lady Astronaut, #2) by Mary Robinette KowalOn a cold spring night in 1952, a huge meteorite fell to earth and obliterated much of the east coast of the United States, including Washington D.C. 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.
Also by this author: Ghost Talkers, Shades of Milk and Honey
Published by Tor Books on August 21, 2018
Pages: 384
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? This gripping look at the real conflicts behind a fantastical space race will put a new spin on our visions of what might have been.
What do I find most appealing about the Lady Astronaut books?
I think it’s the marriage – it’s unusual to see a married couple portrayed as comfortable and happy. Also the sex scenes are both hot and funny.
Ha ha! I didnt even think about those scenes, but yeah, you have a point!
Lisa (@TenaciousReader) recently posted…#WickedReads Blog Tour: Blackout Poetry! for Beasts Made of Night
I was curious about this series. Is it US only?
Unfortunately, yes it is only for US addresses
Lisa (@TenaciousReader) recently posted…#WickedReads Blog Tour: Blackout Poetry! for Beasts Made of Night
What a great giveaway!
Is it open internationally?
Unfortunately not, sorry!
Lisa (@TenaciousReader) recently posted…#WickedReads Blog Tour: Blackout Poetry! for Beasts Made of Night
I’ve heard a lot of great things about these book 🙂
for good reason, they deserve the praise
Lisa (@TenaciousReader) recently posted…#WickedReads Blog Tour: Blackout Poetry! for Beasts Made of Night
The accelerated space program and the fact that I’ve read all the short stories for this universe makes me want to read these.
I’ve actually not read the short stories, I probably should, but I’m kind of crap at prioritizing short fiction for some reason. They take less time, so seems like I should be able to
Lisa (@TenaciousReader) recently posted…#WickedReads Blog Tour: Blackout Poetry! for Beasts Made of Night
I’ve only read the first one so far but it was easily one of my favorites so far this year.
Lisa @ waytoofantasy recently posted…This Week in Reading: A Light Week!
I’ve actually only read the first one so far as well. Not sure what the hold up has been for me to read the second one. Life I guess. Silly Life always getting in the way of books.
Lisa (@TenaciousReader) recently posted…#WickedReads Blog Tour: Blackout Poetry! for Beasts Made of Night
I read the first one which i found to be so intelligent and complex even though I generally don’t like space I loved it.
Yes, the characters really made this relatable for anyone I think
Lisa (@TenaciousReader) recently posted…#WickedReads Blog Tour: Blackout Poetry! for Beasts Made of Night
I’ve heard good things about these books. I hadn’t actually realized they were a series.
Yes, and I saw there are two more planned, so there will eventually be 4 books
Lisa (@TenaciousReader) recently posted…#WickedReads Blog Tour: Blackout Poetry! for Beasts Made of Night
Pretty much love everything MRK writes, and an alternative history that is positive has tremendous appeal.
I really enjoyed her Glamoursit History books as well
Lisa (@TenaciousReader) recently posted…#WickedReads Blog Tour: Blackout Poetry! for Beasts Made of Night
I’ve been wanting these books since she (MRK) first announced them! <3
I think you’ll really enjoy them!
Lisa (@TenaciousReader) recently posted…#WickedReads Blog Tour: Blackout Poetry! for Beasts Made of Night
I am a big fan of alternate history, and have always wanted to be an astronaut, so this series hits all the right notes for me.
Ah, perfect fit then!
Lisa (@TenaciousReader) recently posted…#WickedReads Blog Tour: Blackout Poetry! for Beasts Made of Night
Oh my word what a giveaway! I’m so keen to read these books ?
They are really enjoyable
Lisa (@TenaciousReader) recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday – Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan
I love that there is a strong female protagonist! I feel like this is something different to other sci-fi books I have read before.
Definitely. Its kind of like a Hidden Figures Sci Fi book
Lisa (@TenaciousReader) recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday – Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan
These sound pretty good! 🙂
Greg recently posted…Strange Visitors
They really are
Lisa (@TenaciousReader) recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday – Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan
I love everything to do with outer space so these books sound very interesting.
Excellent! Hope you get a chance to read them
Lisa (@TenaciousReader) recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday – Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan
And this is ANOTHER series I’m desperate to get to – hopefully my Christmas money will allow me to splurge! I know I can’t take part in the giveaway, but thank you for once again reminding me of this delightful-sounding series:)
Ah, sorry about that! But I do hope you get a hold of them
Lisa (@TenaciousReader) recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday – Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan
I loved the first book, can’t wait to read the second.
Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies recently posted…Book Review: Someone Like Me by M. R. Carey
Hi, not sure if I can enter – it doesn’t say if it’s only for the US, but here it goes anyway, as the books sound fab!
Oh, found it! If I win, can I give it to a US-resident, then? 🙂
Would do you find most appealing about the Lady Astronaut books?
The struggles with respect to diversity. From straight white guys who just ‘dont really get what the big deal is’, to cute but very real things like Yiddish-with-a-southern-accent.