Aurora, by Kim Stanley Robinson
I like science fiction. I like science fiction, I like science fiction. I grew up liking science fiction. I mean, I read "The Hobbit". Oh wait.. That’s fantasy. Well I like the Discovery Channel and they have that show "Hunt for Extraterrestrial Life" with that guy and his funny hair, that’s science right?.. Right!? So I like science, I must like science fiction. After reading this book I'm not so sure anymore. I really do like science (and the Discovery Channel) but am honest enough with myself to know Ill never be a physicist. My talents don’t lie in that direction. When I'm listening to a book I typically listen to it for entertainment (shallow.. I know..). I don’t want to feel like I need a prep course on planetary physics before I read it. You know that dream you have where you go to a final exam for a class which you have never attended? I kind of felt like that.
To me the book was a bit schizophrenic. One half was technical information and other was the drama and they didn’t really know about each other. It seemed like you were slammed from drama to technical to back again.
On the technical end it tries so hard to get the science right that it’s a curious choice to include what I think is a magical solution to their problems. Did the author write themselves into a corner? Did they get tired of technical details and was just like, "Eh, what ever, I have a deadline and I just need to get this done!"? It's irritating really. We listen to hours of problems and detailed planetary systems, biology discussions and nuances of living in captive systems to not work out the solution on their own!
On the drama end, It sets up some nice ideas then forgets about them. For example, there's a nice mystery that kept me engaged. But once the mystery is revealed it's forgotten about and not mentioned again, there's no follow up and no consequences, the story doesn't change whatsoever based on the reveal. It could have been removed completely and you would never have known it.
Its difficult not comparing this to "The Martian". The science in that book is not overwhelming and when the technical details are given he (often humorously) dumbs it down to an understandable explanation. You don’t get that sort of handholding here. To be fair this book isn't written for me. It's written for science people. Those who "get" it. For them the science doesn't need to be dumbed down. And to them I tip my hat, their much better readers than I.
On a very positive note, I tend to give books a hard time that don’t have good female characters (see my review of Bill the Vampire). This book has no shortage of good strong female characters in leadership roles.
There's plenty of room for books like this that worship science but If your more like me and want some joy and a bit of science content that's easier to relate too then check out the Jumper series (especially from "Reflex" up) or try "The Martian". Those are science fiction.. right? right!?