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Star Svensdotter #2
A Handful Of Stars
Star Svensdotter, the inventor of Ellfive, heads out to the asteroid belt to make money to ensure that Terranova remains a self-supporting world, encountering danger and adventure along the way
215 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 1991
36 people are currently reading
220 people want to read
About the author
Dana Stabenow
104 books2,148 followersDana Stabenow was born in Anchorage and raised on 75-foot fish tender in the Gulf of Alaska. She knew there was a warmer, drier job out there somewhere.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 17, 2019
I usually like Dana Stabenow's writing, but this didn't quite work for me. It had some interesting ideas, but it also felt a bit dated and read more like a handbook for setting up exploration in the solar system than a story. Plus, it didn't really finish. Maybe the third one in the trilogy will round off the loose ends.
April 28, 2013
It takes the energy from Second Star (the first book in the series) and runs with it. It also goes in new directions, as the main character's brash leap before looking approach has consequences ... the book pulls no real punches in its effect, although that means the ending is much less triumphant than it 'should' be, based on what I was expecting. I liked the change up ; a novel that makes you feel like you should be leaving a legacy of success behind, and the only reason you're not is because you're on your couch reading your life away.
July 12, 2013
This is the second book of a series, but it might be able to stand alone. The story is a bit fragmented, but the characters are more rounded than the first book. The science is a little softer, but still pleasant to read. The end is dissatisfying, but I will read the third (and final) regardless. The sum of the plus and minus is slightly more than 2½ stars.
May 17, 2019
A Handful of Stars(Star Svensdotter #2)by Dana Stabenow
Entering the world of Star Svendotter is like entering the Worlds of Heinlein. There are so many elements of Dana Stabenow's world building that remind me of what I've seen in Heinlein's worlds. There is definitely an emphasis on Scientific Detail.
I love both elements here and then the fact that the gutsy hero is a woman who would do Hazel Stone proud. Hazel stone of The Rolling Stones by Robert A. Heinlein is also known as Hazel Meade and later as Gwen Novak (in Multiverse novels). Both are cantankerous and have a fierce passion for protecting their family. In Star's case her family seem to include everyone who works around her in her various habitats.
Star seems to have a slight detachment along with this that serves to help her dispense justice-most of the time. I'm not so sure how I felt about that after she had children, but there is at least one time where we get to see her pushed to the point that she truly loses it and for good reasons. I like that she stays consistent but felt she lacked some normal emotions sometimes.
There are a couple of issues that come up that are interesting that would have been nice things to address further in this novel. We can hope there might be more about them in the next. The first is that at the moment she goes into labor she is confronted with the realization that she has a child she didn't know about. What? You heard it. This is a favorite joke around here- about how a woman can't have a child she's unaware of. In this context there are reasonable explanations. Star seems to have a reaction about this that we see her teetering on the edge of the thought that there might be some prejudice in her towards test tube babies. This is later brought to the fore again when they discover a ship full of fools who have apparently been cloning themselves into a thin and weak genetic community. She and her new son Leif keep skirting this issue and never have a really good discussion. I understand that in a way it is part of Star's nature to avoid this particular conflict. The bottom line was that we have the impression Star has some prejudice but no actual admission of such from her.
All of this happens as Star and her husband Caleb O'Hara arrive at the asteroid belt. Their mission to mine the belt, set forth in Second Star, has come to fruition and Star immediately is forced to take the bull by the horns when she discovers there is a crisis and a plague in the mining community that she's expected to solve.
The next event of note is major and yet somehow after Star's main blowup- just seems to sort of slide behind her mask judicial fortitude. She really doesn't get a chance to deal with it and it didn't seem fair for her to me. Somehow I'm not sure why she wouldn't and didn't seem to complain that much.
Science wise Star embarks on world creating of her own when they decide they can hollow out asteroids and create livable space. This leads to a discovery that could change the whole landscape of things and then leads to the tragedy. From there things almost become mundane until the climatic end.
The universe that Dana builds here is quite believable and almost sometimes painfully so. It would have been nice to hear something from and of her niece who ran off with the Galactic Librarians, but perhaps that's slated for some future story.
At this point I'd be hard pressed to say if this is shaping up to be a long series of books or a trilogy. I only know that as long as the pace keeps up I'll be interested in following Star , Leif, Paddy and Sean wherever they go.
If you are a fan of Heinlein and love Science Fiction and other such science these stories should be just what the doctor ordered.
J.L. Dobias
Entering the world of Star Svendotter is like entering the Worlds of Heinlein. There are so many elements of Dana Stabenow's world building that remind me of what I've seen in Heinlein's worlds. There is definitely an emphasis on Scientific Detail.
I love both elements here and then the fact that the gutsy hero is a woman who would do Hazel Stone proud. Hazel stone of The Rolling Stones by Robert A. Heinlein is also known as Hazel Meade and later as Gwen Novak (in Multiverse novels). Both are cantankerous and have a fierce passion for protecting their family. In Star's case her family seem to include everyone who works around her in her various habitats.
Star seems to have a slight detachment along with this that serves to help her dispense justice-most of the time. I'm not so sure how I felt about that after she had children, but there is at least one time where we get to see her pushed to the point that she truly loses it and for good reasons. I like that she stays consistent but felt she lacked some normal emotions sometimes.
There are a couple of issues that come up that are interesting that would have been nice things to address further in this novel. We can hope there might be more about them in the next. The first is that at the moment she goes into labor she is confronted with the realization that she has a child she didn't know about. What? You heard it. This is a favorite joke around here- about how a woman can't have a child she's unaware of. In this context there are reasonable explanations. Star seems to have a reaction about this that we see her teetering on the edge of the thought that there might be some prejudice in her towards test tube babies. This is later brought to the fore again when they discover a ship full of fools who have apparently been cloning themselves into a thin and weak genetic community. She and her new son Leif keep skirting this issue and never have a really good discussion. I understand that in a way it is part of Star's nature to avoid this particular conflict. The bottom line was that we have the impression Star has some prejudice but no actual admission of such from her.
All of this happens as Star and her husband Caleb O'Hara arrive at the asteroid belt. Their mission to mine the belt, set forth in Second Star, has come to fruition and Star immediately is forced to take the bull by the horns when she discovers there is a crisis and a plague in the mining community that she's expected to solve.
The next event of note is major and yet somehow after Star's main blowup- just seems to sort of slide behind her mask judicial fortitude. She really doesn't get a chance to deal with it and it didn't seem fair for her to me. Somehow I'm not sure why she wouldn't and didn't seem to complain that much.
Science wise Star embarks on world creating of her own when they decide they can hollow out asteroids and create livable space. This leads to a discovery that could change the whole landscape of things and then leads to the tragedy. From there things almost become mundane until the climatic end.
The universe that Dana builds here is quite believable and almost sometimes painfully so. It would have been nice to hear something from and of her niece who ran off with the Galactic Librarians, but perhaps that's slated for some future story.
At this point I'd be hard pressed to say if this is shaping up to be a long series of books or a trilogy. I only know that as long as the pace keeps up I'll be interested in following Star , Leif, Paddy and Sean wherever they go.
If you are a fan of Heinlein and love Science Fiction and other such science these stories should be just what the doctor ordered.
J.L. Dobias
March 26, 2022
Why
I have read everything Dana has written. I read authors, not books.
I have read every Kate Shugakt book. Every Sean book. I read The Star books.
The one thing I understand is that Dana is her lead character. She puts a lot of her self into her lead characters. She worked on a drill rig in the north sea. She worked on fish boat. She is tough. So are her characters.
She mentions Robert Heinlein over and over in her books. I loved RH. He was my real introduction into reading. Books, books, books. I read and read.
Dana wrote two books that honored RH. They did not copy him. They honored Him.
I could not finish "A hand full of Stars ". What happened to Calebe,and why did she not reacte. Damn it, I have never finished a book in my life. I'm so sorry to read this. I couldn't, she loved him.
You have always put yourself in the persona of the main character, Did something happen In your real life?
Hey, I read all the Kate Shugat novels, so I know you.
I could not finish
I have read everything Dana has written. I read authors, not books.
I have read every Kate Shugakt book. Every Sean book. I read The Star books.
The one thing I understand is that Dana is her lead character. She puts a lot of her self into her lead characters. She worked on a drill rig in the north sea. She worked on fish boat. She is tough. So are her characters.
She mentions Robert Heinlein over and over in her books. I loved RH. He was my real introduction into reading. Books, books, books. I read and read.
Dana wrote two books that honored RH. They did not copy him. They honored Him.
I could not finish "A hand full of Stars ". What happened to Calebe,and why did she not reacte. Damn it, I have never finished a book in my life. I'm so sorry to read this. I couldn't, she loved him.
You have always put yourself in the persona of the main character, Did something happen In your real life?
Hey, I read all the Kate Shugat novels, so I know you.
I could not finish
December 12, 2017
Good Middle Book
I like Stabenow and what she write. But with this one, she had too many openings that she just left dangling. I would have expected more about the interface between Star and her husband. I would have expected more about the son. I’m hoping there’s more fleshing out in the third installment.
I like Stabenow and what she write. But with this one, she had too many openings that she just left dangling. I would have expected more about the interface between Star and her husband. I would have expected more about the son. I’m hoping there’s more fleshing out in the third installment.
July 13, 2018
Other than Star's (Stabenow's?) unquestioned faith in capitalism and the free market, this is a great series. It's full of every-day-life as lived by those opening up space for habitation.
October 21, 2012
The second, and definitely most exciting of the Star Svensdotter series, A Handful of Stars find Star and entourage on another adventure in the astroid belt, establishing a remote mining operation site for the newly completed/occupied "Terranova" Earth orbiting habitat. Establishment of the mining operations will provide much needed raw materials for the continuning enlargement of the habitat. Meeting and interacting with a wide assortment of people, at times the setting reminds you more of an Alaskan gold mining town than a space operation. Finding old friends, meeting new characters, and confronting new enemies keeps Star and her wide assortment of employees busy. Always encouraging her people to find new and innovative ways to build businesses that will help to provide monetary support for their ever costly mining plans, Star makes decisions that prove to have tragic complications.
March 9, 2016
I'm not sure what made it difficult to stay attentive. Though I'm a novice sci-fi reader, I kept wandering off with the many descriptive phrases, jargons used to describe the setting. More attention was needed to the characters storylines. I wanted to see more interaction between Star and her husband, son, and twins. Instead of implied or slightly mentioned relationships among the crew and citizenry of Terranova, we were fed diatribe about the communities and industries to be developed. I know this is one of her earlier works. This might be a reason too. Since this was an audio book, the narrator helped contribute to the confusion too.
February 8, 2016
In my review of the first book in this trilogy, I erroneously claimed it was light on science. I was wrong. The science is great, but it's 1991 science. If I think back, this was some fairly accurate near-term predicting considering the information available. Mea culpa.
As always, sharp characters and a decent sense of place informed by the Alaskan gold rush experience. I wish Stabenow would return to the series!
As always, sharp characters and a decent sense of place informed by the Alaskan gold rush experience. I wish Stabenow would return to the series!
June 30, 2015
3.5 A perhaps slightly stronger followup moves the scene from colonization to asteroid belt capitalism. Characters, science and plotting are all on the mark - these are fun reads which by their very nature feel incomplete (not meant to be a saga, and could certainly stand some fleshing out). The big deduction here was the ending.
August 30, 2015
WOOO look at me reading the second book in a series before the first! This normally doesn't bother me much, but this story is short enough and the references to events in the first book frequent enough that you probably want to avoid doing that, and learn from my mistake. Read this one in order. Seriously, they're tidy short little books; it won't take long.
March 31, 2013
3.5 really.
Both for better and for worse, reads like a Heinlein juvenile with occasional R-rated moments.
At least in the 2nd & 3rd books of the series, she's mostly gotten away from the ghastly cultural stereotypes.
Both for better and for worse, reads like a Heinlein juvenile with occasional R-rated moments.
At least in the 2nd & 3rd books of the series, she's mostly gotten away from the ghastly cultural stereotypes.
July 23, 2014
Another exiting episode in the Star Svensdotter series. Instead of Alaska, Stabenow takes on space. Still with vibrant characters and settings. Love and loss, triumph and accomplishment. A good, easy read.
February 27, 2012
I still have a bit of trouble with the science side of things. That was never my strong subject. But I love that Dana Stabenow has give us another strong female character to cheer for.
July 20, 2013
I would think this was better than the first, and it hooked me for the third right away.
September 14, 2012
Some clever sci-fi concepts, all wrapped up in Heinlein philosophies.
Read
February 6, 2013Good book. I love this author.
July 16, 2016
I liked it, but not as much as the first, probably because this one was much more technical, though it ended with an interesting premise.
January 3, 2016
Loved this series.
Read
January 12, 2018This series predates the Kate Shugak series. I found this book very interesting to see the author's mind forming her future works.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews