Rescue Mode
Ben Bova and Les Johnson
Baen, Jun 3 2014, $25.00
ISBN: 9781476736471
A Chinese unmanned vessel shakes up the world
when it finds organic material on Mars.
Scientists from several nations persuade their leaders to support a
manned mission to Mars in which the Americans fund the Russians to build a
nuclear powered ship. As one of a
seemingly zillion political compromises Canadian Benson Benson is named
Commander of the Arrow. The rest of the flying
team consists of American mission pilot Ted Connover, Japanese psychologist Dr.
Taki Nomura, French geologist Catherine Clermont, American geologist Hiram
McPherson, American communications specialist Virginia Gonzalez, American
biologist Amanda Lynn and Russian meteorologist Mikhail Prokhorov. Also “flying” virtually is American reporter Steven
Treadway who will interview the crew during the trip.
Problems occur in the final days before liftoff,
but NASA scientists with cooperation from their participating peers manage to
correct all of the equipment issues. The
astronauts have problems also, but the octet accept mission first. However, far from earth, a tiny meteorite slams
into the ship with such velocity as to cause terrible damage. While the crippled Arrow continues to Mars as
the team agrees that is their best chance to survive, politicians back home
insist this proves the danger and cost of space is too great.
Taking place twenty years
into the future, Rescue Mode is a super timely science fiction thriller that
will remind readers of Apollo 13, but with a deep focus on the science to get
to Mars and political decisions on earth that impact the mission before and
during flight. Filled with action
especially after the rock hammers the Arrow, fans will appreciate this strong
entry as the naysayers back on earth use the accident as a reason to end space
travel.
Harriet Klausner
No comments:
Post a Comment