Tag Archives: Space

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The Autobiography of Jean Luc Picard

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I have never been an avid reader of autobiographies, even those that delve into the lives of fictional characters. However, when I received this particular book as a gift, I couldn’t resist the temptation to delve into it. I am incredibly glad I made that decision, as it allowed me to explore the life of a character I have always admired on-screen. My journey with Star Trek began with the original series, and my excitement peaked when The Next Generation (TNG) was announced. At that time, I never anticipated developing such a fondness for a balding older man like Captain Jean-Luc Picard.

The characters in TNG were already well developed, and this book provided a fascinating opportunity to gain deeper insights into individuals we had heard about but had never truly understood. As I read through the pages, I discovered narratives that were both familiar and unfamiliar. Some adventures I recognized, while others were only alluded to in previous episodes but were never fully fleshed out. Additionally, there were completely new stories that were being revealed for the first time, offering a richer understanding of the man behind the captain’s chair.

This book chronicled the experiences and life lessons that shaped Jean-Luc Picard into the distinguished man and captain we know and love. He was more than just a leader; he was a son and brother who sought a path for himself that diverged from the expectations set by his lineage. It was enlightening to see how his relationships and personal struggles influenced his leadership style and moral compass.

Moreover, the book is enhanced by actual photographs and stills from the Star Trek series, which adds a layer of authenticity and nostalgia to the narrative. The visuals help to bridge the gap between the reader and the character, making the insights feel even more personal.

Additionally, this book serves as an extensive compendium of every Star Trek series ever made, spanning from the earliest episodes to the latest iterations. Captain Picard’s encounters with a diverse array of characters—from friends to foes—are explored in detail, revealing interactions with individuals we may have never imagined would feature in his story, often illustrating their complexities and struggles.

I found immense joy in reading this book, and I believe that any fan of Star Trek would feel the same sense of wonder and connection to the series. This book is a heartfelt tribute to a beloved character and a must-read for anyone who treasures the Star Trek legacy. I highly recommend it!

My rating: 💫💫💫💫💫

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The Martian

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The Martian by Andy Weir

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I love anything to do with space and especially with Mars because I cannot wait for us to finally take the step. I usually read the book before seeing any movie made from it but this time I did the opposite and saw the movie. I really liked the movie and actually considered not reading the book because it worked for me. I decided to read and listen to it and was pulled right into the story from the very beginning. The narrator of the audio book, R.C. Bray brought the character to life and made me love the book even more than the movie. I love the way that it was set up with multiple points of view but still allowed most of the focus to be on the stranded astronaut.

Just days after their arrival on Mars a storm is heading toward their Habitat which could cause damage to their lift-off vehicle and the mission is aborted. While making their way to the orbital vehicle Mark Watney is struck by a piece of debris and lost in the storm, he is presumed dead and ultimately left behind. When he realizes what happened and with no way to communicate to Earth that he is still alive Mark sets out to make sure he is still alive when the next mission shows up on Mars.

The thing that kept me so interested was that the character was so upbeat and funny throughout his ordeal. He had a few bad moments but for the most part, he made you root for him just based on the fact that you wanted this great guy to survive because he deserved it. I laughed out loud at some of the dialogue and felt like crying any time something went wrong. I also like the science in these stories because space exploration is something I am totally interested in and have been since I was a kid. If I had been better at math and science as a kid I would have tried for the astronaut program myself.

This is a really good book with a movie that actually does it justice. I would recommend that you watch, listen and read The Martian because you will enjoy it in any form.



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Serenity: Float Out

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Hoben Washburn was definitely one of my favorite characters and I miss him. If there were to be another movie I would not get to hear crazy sayings or enjoy his dinosaur fights. This was a short but nice tribute to a character that was very well liked. I could see Wash in each of those situations and know that he would act just that way. If you liked this character than you will enjoy this little tribute.

My rating: 5 of 5 Stars

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Odyssey

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odyssey

Odyssey (The Academy #5)

This grabbed me and made me lose sleep over the past few days because I did not want to put it down. Jack McDevitt is a master of creating a world with people you cannot help but admire and situations that are tense and filled with anticipation.

I love this series along with all it’s permutations because each is a little different but essentially the same. In space you cannot know what to expect and this brings the idea home in a solid manner. The science is sometimes accurate and sometimes theorizing but always interesting. I had wanted to be an astronaut and when I read these books I can at least feel like I made it out there.

Read these books for the sheer joy of flying off into the black and being entertained.

 

 

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

 

“Truth, beaten down, may well rise again. But there’s a reason it gets beaten down. Usually we don’t like it very much.”
― Jack McDevitt, Odyssey

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Starhawk

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starhawk

Starhawk (The Academy #7)

While I have loved riding with the Academy for years now, this was not my favorite adventure to date. This is a prequel which is about Priscilla ‘Hutch’ Hutchins and her first adventure after getting her pilots license and a job. It also is about the development of the Academy as an institution and the Wheel as the space port it needed to become in the future. These were the events that made her who she would later become, but it was not an easy read. The writing is fantastic as always and the characters are well developed and feel like friends more than just words on a page. The galaxy is vivid and I can see the relics left behind in my minds eye with no problem. It just did not have the same feel to it that I am used to having.

Priscilla’s training flight is not as uneventful as most usually are and she and Jake find themselves in the middle of a rescue. The rescue has to occur because of a radical who has placed a bomb on another ship which has blown up. There is a movement that feels the death of every life form on a planet in order to terraform is not acceptable and this is their way of protesting.

The theme throughout is about these individuals who are willing to do anything, including kill in order to save life on a far away planet while sacrificing human life. Priscilla makes a few flights but nothing very note worthy happens. I;m glad I read it because it is part of the story, but I just cannot totally recommend it except to those who have read the previous books.

 

 

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

 

When finally they got through, the first thing Priscilla saw was Josh, floating a foot or two above the deck, his wrist tied to a frame. They tried to revive him, although Priscilla thought it was probably a cruel thing to do. If they succeeded, he would only feel that he had to go through it again.

 

 

 

 

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The Andromeda Strain

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The Andromeda Strain

I have found a book I liked less than the movie adaptation. The book was good but I found it to be bogged down with things that did not seem important to the story really, though the added detail was good. This was a purely male story with women present in support roles like nurse or secretary. It was definitely written during a time when women and people of color would not have been represented as being intelligent and able to contribute. The characters were well defined for the most part, though they could have been fleshed out a bit more. I saw both movie versions, but I preferred the 70’s version better without all the fancy special effects. The fact that they made one of the scientist a woman and the nurse was a black woman, it made it more in keeping with the times really. This book worked better visually than it does on the page for me.

A space probe falls back to earth and lands near a small town. The inhabitants find it and instead of calling the government decide it is a good idea to open it up. What they get for their lack of intelligence is death for them all, all except two souls who are far apart in age and lifestyle survive. Four scientist have been assigned to Wildfire to track and find a cure for something that has never been seen on this planet. It kills fast and silently in most cases not giving them time to even say goodbye.

I did like the book and think that it should be read because it does give you some more background if you have seen the movies.  

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
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Lacuna: Demons of the Void

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Lacuna: Demons of the Void (Lacuna #1)Lacuna: Demons of the Void by David  Adams

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

True rating would be 3.5 stars. II was not sure what to expect when I started this except another space opera. It turned out to be a little more than that. The protagonist is a woman, Melissa Liao, who has dedicated her life to the Chinese Navy. When the earth is attacked and multiple cities destroyed and millions killed she is tapped to command one of three new warships being built on the moon. She takes to this mission and goes to face the enemy with an iron will.

This story also has a romance element which is surprising considering the fact that it is about military might. But it fits with what is going on around them.

What’s not to like, aliens, romance, space battles, and loss.