Scan barcode
badseedgirl's review against another edition
4.0
Welcome to Day 1 of my 2021 25 Days of Short Stories Christmas Advent Calendar. Each day I will be reading a short story from the collection of over 600 short stories and novellas available for free on Tor.com. This is a collection of horror, sci-fi and fantasy. I will be letting fate (and the random number generator decide what I read each day. I will add this intro to the start of each of my reviews.
Day 1: The Art of Space Travel by Nina Allan
What an amazing start to this challenge. I could not get over how emotional this story made me feel. Less about space travel than family dynamics, but still It makes me want to read [b:The Art of Space Travel and Other Stories|56725157|The Art of Space Travel and Other Stories|Nina Allan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1615743494l/56725157._SY75_.jpg|88670196] and isn't that one of the reasons why people read short stories. Emily was such a true character. I was feeling her emotions through this story. I figured out the mystery pretty quickly, but it was still a moving story.
Day 1: The Art of Space Travel by Nina Allan
What an amazing start to this challenge. I could not get over how emotional this story made me feel. Less about space travel than family dynamics, but still It makes me want to read [b:The Art of Space Travel and Other Stories|56725157|The Art of Space Travel and Other Stories|Nina Allan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1615743494l/56725157._SY75_.jpg|88670196] and isn't that one of the reasons why people read short stories. Emily was such a true character. I was feeling her emotions through this story. I figured out the mystery pretty quickly, but it was still a moving story.
pine_wulf's review
4.0
Beautiful story. It's about a woman's relationship with her mother and thoughts of her mysterious father amid the backdrop of a mission to Mars. The view we get of the future is a bit pessimistic, but it doesn't ring far from truth. There is still the smell of diesel and petrol. A cover-up regarding a toxic crash.
I will say the ending is very predictable for the reader, but I didn't mind. I liked the telling.
I will say the ending is very predictable for the reader, but I didn't mind. I liked the telling.
maria_pulver's review against another edition
4.0
I think Strugatskys said that already: the really important things are on Earth
chirson's review against another edition
4.0
A beautiful, contemplative and thoughtful gem of a novella. I love this brand of no-fireworks sci-fi. It was a pleasure to read.
libbystephenson's review against another edition
2.0
This would have been a 4 star read if it has been half as long.
titusfortner's review against another edition
3.0
One of the 2017 Hugo nominations for best novelette.
This is science fiction only in the loosest sense. This story would not be any less relevant in a setting where there are no astronauts traveling to Mars, the protagonist would just be musing about slightly different things. The writing itself is nice, but the plot is meandering and the ending is obvious.
This is science fiction only in the loosest sense. This story would not be any less relevant in a setting where there are no astronauts traveling to Mars, the protagonist would just be musing about slightly different things. The writing itself is nice, but the plot is meandering and the ending is obvious.
crtsjffrsn's review against another edition
3.0
After the first mission intended to put people on Mars was a tragic failure, it has taken thirty years for people to be ready to try again. As a hotel housekeeper, Emily's only connection to the mission is the fact that two of the mission's astronauts will be coming to her hotel to participate in the final press conference before the launch. But Emily's mother, Moolie, has something that Emily needs to know. And that something may just set Emily's entire world on its head.
When I read science fiction, I admit that I do like the speculative elements of the story. But what is most important is the character development. Who are these people? Why should I care about them and what is happening to them? How are they going to overcome the obstacles that are thrown in their way? And Nina Allan definitely delivers in all of those areas. Although this is novelette length, readers get an opportunity to see in to Emily's world--and to be right there with her when everything changes in ways she never expected or imagined.
When I read science fiction, I admit that I do like the speculative elements of the story. But what is most important is the character development. Who are these people? Why should I care about them and what is happening to them? How are they going to overcome the obstacles that are thrown in their way? And Nina Allan definitely delivers in all of those areas. Although this is novelette length, readers get an opportunity to see in to Emily's world--and to be right there with her when everything changes in ways she never expected or imagined.
tronella's review against another edition
4.0
Abrupt ending, but otherwise I really enjoyed this. (Space!)