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Rocket Science
Rocket Science is a collection of 17 original stories of hard science fiction, accompanied by 5 original non-fiction essays on space exploration.
In the spirit of Mutation's mission to add to bibliodiversity, the stories were selected by an open call for submissions.
The authors, selected from a range of nationalities, are a mixture of published fiction writers, professional astrophysicists and aerospace engineers.
In the spirit of Mutation's mission to add to bibliodiversity, the stories were selected by an open call for submissions.
The authors, selected from a range of nationalities, are a mixture of published fiction writers, professional astrophysicists and aerospace engineers.
320 pages, Paperback
First published April 8, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 13, 2012
The concept behind this anthology - that all the stories within must be underpinned by scientific fact rather than the handwavium of hyperspace, warp drives, teleporters, and little green men - appeared daunting to someone whose roots in the genre are based on lightsabers, timelords, hobbits & dragons. In fact Rocket Science both looked and sounded very dry: fiction and non-fiction? Together? Eek!
Actually, it works. And it works damn well. While the fiction herein is built upon science, science is not the star. The heroes (and occasional villains) of these stories are well-drawn, ambitious humans, and every single story is so well constructed that you scarcely notice you are reading real "hard" science fiction.
The stand-outs for me include "Conquistadors" by Iain Cairns, "Fisher's Gambit" by Stephen Gaskell, "Going, Boldly" by Helen Jackson, and "Not Because They Are Easy" by Sam Kepfield - the latter being an incredible alt-history account of the first (Russian) men on the moon which manages to throw in Watergate, OJ Simpson, and a nice final reveal.
The non-fiction, interspersed throughout the anthology, lends more credence to the stories. Conversely, the stories themselves make the articles far more approachable, and as such I thoroughly enjoyed these too. If the authors deserve individual credit for rising to the challenges of the anthology's brief, then so does the book's editor for having created such an excellent end product.
If you think you aren't going to enjoy this, that "hard sf" is unapproachable, then this is the book that will prove you wrong. Fact.
Actually, it works. And it works damn well. While the fiction herein is built upon science, science is not the star. The heroes (and occasional villains) of these stories are well-drawn, ambitious humans, and every single story is so well constructed that you scarcely notice you are reading real "hard" science fiction.
The stand-outs for me include "Conquistadors" by Iain Cairns, "Fisher's Gambit" by Stephen Gaskell, "Going, Boldly" by Helen Jackson, and "Not Because They Are Easy" by Sam Kepfield - the latter being an incredible alt-history account of the first (Russian) men on the moon which manages to throw in Watergate, OJ Simpson, and a nice final reveal.
The non-fiction, interspersed throughout the anthology, lends more credence to the stories. Conversely, the stories themselves make the articles far more approachable, and as such I thoroughly enjoyed these too. If the authors deserve individual credit for rising to the challenges of the anthology's brief, then so does the book's editor for having created such an excellent end product.
If you think you aren't going to enjoy this, that "hard sf" is unapproachable, then this is the book that will prove you wrong. Fact.
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April 22, 2012It doesn't feel right to give this anthology a rating, as I have a story in it. But, if I did, I'd give everyone else's stories five stars. As Eric Brown's Guardian review of Rocket Science says, "The strength of the collection is that the best of the stories – and the standard is very high – are about the human condition."
Well done to editor Ian Sales for putting together such a strong selection.
Well done to editor Ian Sales for putting together such a strong selection.
September 30, 2017
It started out as an open call for submissions and turned into a book of short stories and non-fiction essays that show how good a compilation of stories can be. For a long time now, science fiction has become science fact; the quirky gadget from the original Star Trek series developed into today's cell phone, while the PADD from Star Trek TNG became the e-reader device many of us read novels and stories on around the world.
This collection of stories and essays convey what is possible, and what we write can later turn into fact. Isn't that one of the best reasons to read these stories?
Rocket Science: Fiction and Non-Fiction does bring together fantasy and fact, and increases the possibility of any of the seventeen tales coming true. This is what readers will no doubt like and the editor uses a bunch of selected published writers, from professional astrophysicists to aerospace engineers. For me, editor Ian Sales has thought this through, and brought us true science fiction with punch.
Most of today's science fiction is written into small places within the vast universe, or uses fantastic technology to make the stories interesting. With these writers on board, there will be none of that, only a realistic depiction of what the possibilities could be in each story. Each story has a short biography at the end, so readers get to know more about who the writer is, and their background as well as their other published writings.
This collection of stories and essays convey what is possible, and what we write can later turn into fact. Isn't that one of the best reasons to read these stories?
Rocket Science: Fiction and Non-Fiction does bring together fantasy and fact, and increases the possibility of any of the seventeen tales coming true. This is what readers will no doubt like and the editor uses a bunch of selected published writers, from professional astrophysicists to aerospace engineers. For me, editor Ian Sales has thought this through, and brought us true science fiction with punch.
Most of today's science fiction is written into small places within the vast universe, or uses fantastic technology to make the stories interesting. With these writers on board, there will be none of that, only a realistic depiction of what the possibilities could be in each story. Each story has a short biography at the end, so readers get to know more about who the writer is, and their background as well as their other published writings.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews