Rude Astronauts

Near Space

by Allen M. Steele

A collection featuring the author's first published story, "Live from the Mars Hotel," and the Diamondback Jack trilogy, along with a few nonfiction pieces

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Alternate History, Fiction, Anthologies, Science Fiction Fantasy, Collections

284 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 21, 1993

About the author

Before becoming a science fiction writer, Allen Steele was a journalist for newspapers and magazines in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Missouri, and his home state of Tennessee. But science fiction was his first love, so he eventually ditched journalism and began producing that which had made him decide to become a writer in the first place.

Since then, Steele has published eighteen novels and nearly one hundred short stories. His work has received numerous accolades, including three Hugo Awards, and has been translated worldwide, mainly into languages he can’t read. He serves on the board of advisors for the Space Frontier Foundation and is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. He also belongs to Sigma, a group of science fiction writers who frequently serve as unpaid consultants on matters regarding technology and security.

Allen Steele is a lifelong space buff, and this interest has not only influenced his writing, it has taken him to some interesting places. He has witnessed numerous space shuttle launches from Kennedy Space Center and has flown NASA’s shuttle cockpit simulator at the Johnson Space Center. In 2001, he testified before the US House of Representatives in hearings regarding the future of space exploration. He would like very much to go into orbit, and hopes that one day he’ll be able to afford to do so.

Steele lives in western Massachusetts with his wife, Linda, and a continual procession of adopted dogs. He collects vintage science fiction books and magazines, spacecraft model kits, and dreams.

Reviews

[Kate Rauner · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Rude Astronauts" is a collection of short stories written by Allen Steele between the mid-1980s to early 1990s, so there are a few anachronistic bits of technology. The note about the author gives a good idea of the elements you'll find in these stories: Steele was a journalist whose work took him to the Kennedy and Johnson Space Centers, he lives in New England, and collects vintage science fiction.
The stories offer a range of topics and styles; the "rude astronauts" of the title make only a cameo appearance. There are antics of construction crews on space structures are the most comical (though I bet these could have been set in the Antarctic or on the sea floor just as well), there is a more serious space adventure, a spy thriller, and some less personal, third-person stories that read like history. (These are just the sort of stories that worm their way into my brain, confusing my memory of truth and fiction.) His "alternate history" stories are my least favorite: The plots don't depart far enough from real history to be striking.
Overall I liked the collection, though I doubt I'd read the book twice.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting range of SF, non-fiction and 'future science' tales written in an easy to read style and entertaining voice. This is the first time I've read Allen Steele's work and I'm interested in trying some more. I find short story collections much quicker to get through than a novel, because of the length or the difference in flow I'm not sure, and this one took me stints over 3 nights to finish.

[Andreas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of short stories and articles. Steele’s has a journalistic style and tends to describe the actual “normal people” protagonists of an event as opposed to the powers that be. He is seldom grandiose, but his stories tend to be very crisp and relatable. The articles are from Steele’s time as a science reporter in Florida.

http://www.books.rosboch.net/?p=1318

[Rhea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some great alternative history stories in this collection of short stories. I particularly enjoyed the ones about a US space program starting during WW2. If I'm not mistaken one of these stories was expanded later in 'The Tranquility Alternative'.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steele's first collection includes some of his excellent non-fiction, as well as some of the best of his science fiction, most notably (in my opinion)his Diamondback Jack trilogy of stories set in his near-space universe.

[Scottsch · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only read a few of these short stories. The Diamondback Jack ones were alright. Overall, a bit gloomy.

I'm also giving this away.

[Garryg · Rating 2 out of 5]

A decent collection of near-future sci-fi, something there isn’t enough if in my view.
My favourite story by far was "The Return of Weird Frank"
On this story alone I would have given it five stars!

[Mark Catalfano · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked “Sugar’s Blues” and “Goddard’s People”

[Robert]

This was a fairly good book of short stories from very early in Steele's career. I gave it a four star rating although with more refinement I would probably rate it 3.7 or so. I liked reading his beginnings and also his brief writing of the KSC/Merriss Island stories around the grill. I live on north Merritt Island and although there is no such place there are a couple of a bit remote such places up here. I almost wish he had continued on with the stories longer. A couple of stories stood out particularly Trembling Earth. The story touching on other scifi writers was also fun. I met Allen once at an Orlando con and we had a nice discussion mainly on the space program as I worked for NASA then and he of course is quite knowledgeable. I will be looking to see what he writes next as I've read most of what he has written particularly the recent books.