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The Orion Project
Not yet published
Expected 8 Sep 26320 pages, Paperback
Expected publication September 8, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
In appreciation of the ARC, I am providing my honest opinion.
With the recent success of Artemis II, space exploration has been quite de rigueur so it is timely that this book came to my attention. Swirski’s meticulous research brings a fascinating time in history to bring to light. I will admit my knowledge of this era is not the best, so it was quite neat to see the very real NYT news headlines interspersed between chapters. I wasn’t sure when I was reading if they were real at first, but a quick bit of Google confirmed it; as much as I loved that, it was also daunting to see that not a lot has changed.
This mystery/alternative history/literary thriller? (there are so many facets!) drew me in with the protagonist’s cocksure attitude and the imminent expectation of big things going to happen. I learned of the enormous toll it takes to make it into space – the science and the psychology of it all, and the cost. While I know the story delves into alternate history, it was startling to reconfigure to it as such – high praise to the storyteller of weaving fact and fiction so well.
The ending did leave me a little bewildered, but I think that was a bit the point. All in all, a thoughtful read for me.
With the recent success of Artemis II, space exploration has been quite de rigueur so it is timely that this book came to my attention. Swirski’s meticulous research brings a fascinating time in history to bring to light. I will admit my knowledge of this era is not the best, so it was quite neat to see the very real NYT news headlines interspersed between chapters. I wasn’t sure when I was reading if they were real at first, but a quick bit of Google confirmed it; as much as I loved that, it was also daunting to see that not a lot has changed.
This mystery/alternative history/literary thriller? (there are so many facets!) drew me in with the protagonist’s cocksure attitude and the imminent expectation of big things going to happen. I learned of the enormous toll it takes to make it into space – the science and the psychology of it all, and the cost. While I know the story delves into alternate history, it was startling to reconfigure to it as such – high praise to the storyteller of weaving fact and fiction so well.
The ending did leave me a little bewildered, but I think that was a bit the point. All in all, a thoughtful read for me.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A masterpiece in more ways than one, which is why it is very difficult to assign this book to a genre. Mystery? Yes, in the best sense of the word, which is to say that a sense of mystery will linger with you long after you've finished the book, which is also why (if you're like me) you will want to re-read it, and then probably again. Thriller? Yes, again in the best sense because the suspense/tension is utterly believable. Literary? Yes, because the quality of the prose, the freshness of the language, and the concern for the human condition is apparent on every page. A book unlike any other I've read.
May 2, 2026
This was a fascinating book— full of lifelike characters with lots of quirk, tons of science and historical detail yet so richly fictional.
The book was well-crafted and well-organized yet casually written. It was a hefty book yet so well-paced it didn’t feel long.
I guess the reason I gave it only three stars is because the ending left me unsettled. And I expected it to be more historical fiction than alternative history.
Was definitely worth my time and will have me pondering for a while.
The book was well-crafted and well-organized yet casually written. It was a hefty book yet so well-paced it didn’t feel long.
I guess the reason I gave it only three stars is because the ending left me unsettled. And I expected it to be more historical fiction than alternative history.
Was definitely worth my time and will have me pondering for a while.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews