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265 items found for "space"

  • Six Fascinating Stories Set in Space

    Space Stories I've Loved I'm captivated by stories about space--the unknown, the possibilities, the unimaginable love the series so very much, I have separate posts for Martha Wells's Murderbot series, set in deep space space? She's on her own out there in space, and as lonely as any human could imagine being. Romy is on her own in space, haunted by the events that led to her solo venture.

  • Review of Interesting Facts about Space by Emily Austin

    But I was distracted by what felt like uneven pacing, multiple willfully delayed resolutions, and slapstick-seeming In Emily Austin's Interesting Facts about Space, Enid is obsessed with space, and she could talk all She uses the sharing of space facts to deflect from emotions, uncomfortable situations, and facing the In her spare time, Enid loves true crime podcasts and dates a variety of women from dating apps. facts Enid spouted off at times, but in general, the story's tone frequently felt oddly zany, and the pacing

  • Review of Orbital by Samantha Harvey

    The luminous novel Orbital tracks six astronauts in the International Space Station for one day as they In Orbital , Harvey takes the ultimate locked-room setting of six people in a small space, orbiting 250 Some of those on the ground try to insist upon imposing barriers upon the space travelers. The space station and the shuttle headed to the moon both dodge the numerous items of space trash orbiting You can find more Bossy reviews of books set in space here .

  • Review of System Collapse (Murderbot #7) by Martha Wells

    Collapse provides more of SecUnit's emotional coping with PTSD than action, and I missed the faster pacing near-death experience, yet the page time spent on insecurity, fear, and facing past trauma is one reason the pacing The end section of the story involves fast-paced reactions and conflicts, with SecUnit doing its thing

  • Review of To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers

    Through a technique called somaforming, human space flight has been revolutionized; synthetic supplementations I love a space setting (feel free to check out these other Bossy reviews of novels set in space ), and I really enjoyed the glimpses of this space crew working together, coping with setbacks, and making

  • Review of The Blighted Stars (Devoured Worlds #1) by Megan E. O'Keefe

    O'Keefe's first space opera in the Devoured Worlds series presents failing worlds filled with conflict The tone of The Blighted Stars is a somewhat dark and horrifying space adventure, with moments of sweetness

  • Review of The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson

    Johnson offers a wonderfully imperfect heroine and her fascinating journeys through the multiverse, her various lives, and her alternate selves in this science fiction debut. Cara is one of a dwindling number of traversers. She can travel through the multiverse, but only to worlds where another version of herself no longer exists. Her other selves seem uncannily apt to die, so Cara is able to visit 372 other Earths where her counterparts are no longer living. She comes from poverty and an unfavored area, and she lives in uncertain status, without citizenship or security aside from her employment for the mysterious, greedy Eldridge Institute. She collects off-world data, the purpose of which has never been of interest to her--she's more focused on tracking the shadows of her other existences, piecing together the lives of her counterparts, and keeping a journal of all that was and might have been. If I figured anything out in these last six years, it is this: human beings are unknowable. But when one of Cara's eight remaining selves mysteriously dies while she is world walking, shocking secrets are revealed that connect various worlds and shake Cara to her core. She must cobble together the various bits of knowledge and savviness she's gained through tracing the steps of her many other selves if she's going to stand any chance of outsmarting the canny and intelligent Adam Bosch--a man who will otherwise almost certainly be the source of her undoing. I could become the thing I'd always feared, and then I might never be afraid of anything again. This was a fascinating story that offered satisfying character depth and various permutations of Cara herself, her family members, loves, nightmarish enemies, and best friends. Johnson's explorations of the complicated intersections of class, wealth and poverty, control of valuable resources, and disparate levels of freedom throughout the multiverse are haunting. Cara lives through tantalizing explorations of her alternate lives--and the shape of each is dramatically affected by her own various small and large decisions, others' choices, and chance. I was intrigued by the layers Johnson built into the story. In some worlds, Cara recognizes common characteristics in those she loves or fears; she sometimes barely recognizes the same people in other worlds; and she always mentally logs the various factors that allowed beauty or cruelty or desperation or joy to take root. There's a postapocalyptic feel to the story, with turf wars, corruption, mercenary "runners" who shake down travelers, and gritty survivors. When asked what this discovery could teach us about what mattered, about death, and human nature, and how to make the world a gentler place, both parties were silent. But we were right, the scientists said. And so were we, the spiritual said. Cara isn't superhuman; she's imperfect, sometimes selfish, tough, and occasionally she's wonderfully vulnerable. I loved her as an unlikely heroine, and I loved that it wasn't too easy for her to attempt to address complex issues within the multiverse. The middle of the story dragged a little bit for me, but generally I was hooked and ready for whatever Johnson was serving up. Side note: I'd like for this story to also become a movie, thank you very much. I received an advance digital copy of this book courtesy of Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley. Do you have any Bossy thoughts about this book? This is Micaiah Johnson's first book. Its tone reminded me a little bit of The Goddess in the Machine. If you like books with a postapocalyptic feel, check out the books on the Greedy Reading List Six Fantastic Dystopian and Postapocalyptic Novels.

  • Review of August Kitko and the Mechas from Space (The Starmetal Symphony #1) by Alex White

    White's first Starmetal Symphony installment offers deadly deep-space robots, showcases the power of In the first book in Alex White's Starmetal Symphony space opera series, Gus is a jazz pianist whose After all, the Vanguards, giant, deadly AI robots, are headed from deep space to destroy Earth at any personality but are battle machines with infinite knowledge); and the fight for love in this LGBTQ space But August Kitko isn't about the robots from space.

  • Review of The Deep Sky by Yume Kitasei

    I loved the futuristic space-mission capabilities, smart and strong all-woman crew, the mystery and suspicion In Yume Kitasei's science fiction thriller The Deep Sky, a mission to deep space is disrupted by an explosion With the collapse of Earth's environment imminent, eighty trained elite young people venture into space I do generally love a book set on a ship barreling through space, and I loved The Deep Sky. I recently posted a Greedy Reading List of Six Fascinating Stories Set in Space.

  • Review of Activation Degradation by Marina J. Lostetter

    Lostetter's standalone science fiction is a story about robots, a ragtag space crew, friends like family Wells's Murderbot books centered around a grumpy, skeptical AI, as well as a wonderful ragtag, loyal space

  • Six Science Fiction Favorites to Dive Into

    Chambers Chambers's science fiction is full of heart, heartbreak, and hope--with a fascinating backdrop of space The book feels much more focused on the characters--with a backdrop of space travel and otherworldly Divya Space! Robots! Artificial intelligence!

  • Review of Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh

    Emily Tesh's debut novel is a space opera about war, duty, brainwashing, escaping limitations, and reinventing

  • Review of The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers #1) by Becky Chambers

    Chambers's science fiction is full of heart, heartbreak, and hope--with a fascinating backdrop of space she's adjusting to life on board, the crew gets a lucrative opportunity: to tunnel wormholes through space The book feels much more focused on the characters--with a backdrop of space travel and otherworldly Wayfarers series includes The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet; A Closed and Common Orbit; Record of a Spaceborn

  • Review of Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

    Andy Weir offers the fascinating story of a desperate space mission, creative innovation, and enduring He seems to be in space and isn't sure what has happened, and not only does he not remember his own name The present-day story alternates with peeks back in time to life before this space mission, which show problem-solving, particularly scientific experimentation and high-stakes trial and error, and while it slowed the pace

  • Three Books I'm Reading Now, 9/10/21 Edition

    Reasons to Stay Alive, Matt Haig's memoir about mental illness and coping with depression; and The Space I'm listening to Haig read this audiobook. 03 The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson Cara can travel

  • Review of The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James

    adult science fiction story has an irresistible premise: teenaged Romy is the sole survivor on her spaceship She's on her own out there in space, and as lonely as any human could imagine being. While events on Earth spiral into world war and destruction, sending the space missions toward uncertain Romy is on her own in space, haunted by the events that led to her solo venture.

  • Review of The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

    Jesuits in space find extraterrestrial life--and explore the limits of their faith. Jesuits in space! Russell was turned down 31 times before this book was picked up by an agent.

  • Review of Machinehood by S.B. Divya

    Space! Robots! Artificial intelligence! Space! Robots! Artificial intelligence!

  • Three Books I'm Reading Now, 1/28/21 Edition

    has been on my list for a while because of its irresistible premise: Romy is the sole survivor on her spaceship I'm liking this mix: young adult space science fiction story, dystopian fantasy series prequel, and character-driven

  • Review of A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe (The Salvagers #1) by Alex White

    The first in Alex White's Salvagers space opera series offers diverse characters, strong women, a heist A Big Ship is a space heist book with lots of action, strong women characters driving the plot, and a wasn't completely clear on the intersections of magic (glyphs, spells) and futuristic technology (AI, spaceships

  • Three Books I'm Reading Now, 1/22/24 Edition

    ; I'm reading Emily Austin's upcoming novel about a quirky main protagonist Interesting Facts about Space of Fates and Furies, Matrix, The Monsters of Templeton, and other novels. 02 Interesting Facts about Space by Emily Austin In Emily Austin's Interesting Facts about Space, Enid is obsessed with space, and she

  • Review of Those Beyond the Wall by Micaiah Johnson

    I was intrigued and fascinated with the layers of Micaiah Johnson's book The Space Between Worlds, which partner she despises and an abrupt, suspicious, but brilliant City scientist (who also appeared in The Space Micaiah Johnson is also the author of The Space Between Worlds, a book I loved.

  • Three Books I'm Reading Now, 2/27/23 Edition

    with relatives for a hot summer; I'm reading the first of Alex White's Starmetal Symphony series, the space opera August Kitko and the Mechas from Space, about deadly AI robots coming to destroy space--until can check out my Bossy review of Small Things Like These here. 02 August Kitko and the Mechas from Space After all, the Vanguards, giant, deadly AI robots, are headed from deep space to destroy Earth at any That first book in the space opera series offers diverse characters, strong women, a heist setup, and

  • Six More Science Fiction and Fantasy Reads I Loved in the Past Year

    01 August Kitko and the Mechas from Space (Starmetal Symphony #1) by Alex White White's first Starmetal Symphony installment offers deadly deep-space robots, showcases the power of music, and illustrates After all, the Vanguards, giant, deadly AI robots, are headed from deep space to destroy Earth at any I loved the futuristic space-mission capabilities, smart and strong all-woman crew, the mystery and I do generally love a book set on a ship barreling through space, and I loved The Deep Sky.

  • Three Books I'm Reading Now, 8/7/23 Edition

    Treacherous Curse; and I'm reading The Deep Sky, Yume Kitasei's recent science fiction thriller about a deep space Deep Sky by Yume Kitasei In Yume Kitasei's science fiction thriller The Deep Sky, a mission to deep space With the collapse of Earth's environment imminent, eighty trained elite young people venture into space

  • Three Books I'm Reading Now, 4/15/24 Edition

    Barnes's space horror novel Ghost Station, psychologist Dr. Desperate and devastated, she reluctantly moves into a spare room in the apartment of an acquaintance He has extra space because he was just dumped by his live-in girlfriend Petra.

  • Six Four-Star (and Up) Science Fiction Reads I Loved Last Year

    feel like the perfect time to cozy up with a science fiction story with fantastic characters and some space Two of these share one of my favorite setups (a ragtag crew with heart has adventures in space; The Long The book feels much more focused on the characters--with a backdrop of space travel and otherworldly Lostetter Lostetter's standalone science fiction is a story about robots, a ragtag space crew, friends Trapped in the eerie space station with three grumpy, unwilling teachers trying to prepare her for the

  • Three Books I'm Reading Now, 10/16/23 Edition

    Walker, scheduled for publication tomorrow, American Girl; I'm reading Emily Tesh's debut novel, a space Emily Tesh's debut novel is a space opera about war, duty, brainwashing, escaping limitations, and reinventing

  • Review of Harrow the Ninth (Locked Tomb #2) by Tamsyn Muir

    last necromancer of the Ninth House, wakes disoriented and without her full powers on the Emperor's space Trapped in the eerie space station with three grumpy, unwilling teachers trying to prepare her for the coming for you, and then you both die and she turns up ages later in the broiling heat on a sacred space

  • Shhh! Science and Nature Bossy Book Gift Ideas

    to the Night Sky, 2nd Edition, which also offers photos, maps, key facts about black holes and other space Universe in 3D: A Visual Tour by Neil deGrasse Tyson Here's some more star-related book love for the space-obsessed To explore space is to keep the door open to that future." , offbeat curiosity, vast knowledge, and a fascination with "what ifs" (What if you vomited in your space another great gift idea) feels like a great bet for keeping curious young people engaged with science and space

  • Three Books I'm Reading Now, 4/3/23 Edition

    Bracken, also scheduled for publication April 4; and I'm reading the first in Adrian Tchaikovsky's space In the first book of Tchaikovsky's space opera trilogy, the last humans once left Earth for the stars

  • March Wrap-Up: My Favorite Reads of the Month

    about race, gender, and power; Weyward, a multi-timeline witchy story; August Kitko and the Mechas from Space Click here for my full review of Foster. 03 August Kitko and the Mechas from Space by Alex White White's first Starmetal Symphony installment offers deadly deep-space robots, showcases the power of music, After all, the Vanguards, giant, deadly AI robots, are headed from deep space to destroy Earth at any Click here for my full review of August Kitko and the Mechas from Space. 04 I Have Some Questions for

  • August Wrap-Up: My Favorite Reads of the Month

    two historical fiction mystery series featuring irresistible heroines; a girl-power science-fiction space Reading, and Six More Great Light Fiction Stories. 02 The Deep Sky by Yume Kitasei I loved the futuristic space-mission In Yume Kitasei's science fiction thriller The Deep Sky, a mission to deep space is disrupted by an explosion With the collapse of Earth's environment imminent, eighty trained elite young people venture into space I do generally love a book set on a ship barreling through space, and I loved The Deep Sky.

  • Review of Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff

    Great swaths of her life were white space to her husband.

  • Review of Funny Story by Emily Henry

    Desperate and devastated, she reluctantly moves into a spare room in the apartment of an acquaintance He has extra space because he was just dumped by his live-in girlfriend Petra.

  • Review of The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak

    Kazantzakis has continued to live in London with her distracted botanist father Kostas, who has little brain space

  • Review of How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu

    park provides rollercoaster-induced euthanasia to dying children; hotels become elaborately designed spaces The space also offers those in it a tantalizing chance to look back on pivotal moments from their life are able to see the previously unknown perspectives of those who loved them, and those occupying this space

  • November Wrap-Up: My Favorite Reads of the Month

    about a traveling librarian in 1930s Appalachia; a luminous story of astronauts on the International Space 05 Orbital by Samantha Harvey The luminous novel Orbital tracks six astronauts in the International Space The story within the space station is emotionally full but quiet plot-wise in contrast to the workings

  • Three Books I'm Reading Now, 3/18/24 Edition

    Micaiah Johnson is also the author of The Space Between Worlds, a book I loved. 02 The Women by Kristin But I've been frustrated by what feels like odd pacing, soap-opera elements, outlandish events, or too-easy

  • Review of Ready or Not by Cara Bastone

    would keep the baby despite the many challenges and unknowns (lack of money, single parenthood, lack of space

  • Six More Science Fiction Favorites to Dive Into

    01 The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson Johnson offers a wonderfully imperfect heroine and her Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe (Salvagers #1) by Alex White The first in Alex White's Salvagers space A Big Ship is a space heist book with lots of action, strong female characters driving the plot, and the Universe. 06 Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir Andy Weir offers the fascinating story of a desperate space He seems to be in space and isn't sure what has happened, and not only does he not remember his own name

  • Six Books I Want, Bossy Holiday 2022 Edition

    Under Fortunate Stars by Ren Hutchings Just look at this gorgeous cover and listen to this excellent space-opera the alien Felen, smuggler Jereth Keeven’s freighter the Jonah breaks down in a strange rift in deep space Other books I've loved with ragtag space crews include Activation Degradation, The Long Way to a Small

  • Three Books I'm Reading Now, 9/26/22 Edition

    last necromancer of the Ninth House, wakes disoriented and without her full powers on the Emperor's space Trapped in the eerie space station with three grumpy, unwilling teachers trying to prepare her for the

  • Three Books I'm Reading Now, 11/18/24 Edition

    exercises, engages with each other, and attends to the minutiae of an extended stay in small quarters in space

  • Review of The Rule Book by Sarah Adams

    faced with increasingly complicated life challenges as they try to balance their careers with making space

  • Three Books I'm Reading Now, 6/6/22 Edition

    Lostetter's standalone science fiction about AI, a space crew, friendship, and bravery. Wells's Murderbot books centered around a grumpy, skeptical AI, as well as a wonderful ragtag, loyal space

  • January Wrap-Up: My Favorite Reads of the Month

    Small, Angry Planet, the first in Becky Chambers's science fiction series about a big-hearted, ragtag space Chambers Chambers's science fiction is full of heart, heartbreak, and hope--with a fascinating backdrop of space she's adjusting to life on board, the crew gets a lucrative opportunity: to tunnel wormholes through space The book feels much more focused on the characters--with a backdrop of space travel and otherworldly This is a fast-paced book, as Dolly talks about various thoughts as related to 175 of her songs, while

  • Review of Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino

    Adina is born on Earth just as Voyager 1 launches into space.

  • Three Books I'm Reading Now, 2/5/24 Edition

    01 Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino Adina is born on Earth just as Voyager 1 launches into space.

  • My Favorite Reads of the Year So Far

    Chambers's science fiction is full of heart, heartbreak, and hope--set against a fascinating backdrop of space she's adjusting to life on board, the crew gets a lucrative opportunity: to tunnel wormholes through space The book feels much more focused on the characters--with a backdrop of space travel and otherworldly click here. 04 Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir Andy Weir offers the fascinating story of a desperate space The present-day story alternates with peeks back in time to life before this space mission, which show

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