#maryrobinettekowal — Public Fediverse posts

🆕 blog! “Book Review: The Martian Contingency by Mary Robinette Kowal”
★★★★☆

The Lady Astronaut books are an absolute triumph - it's just a shame that they've been somewhat overshadowed by the TV series "For All Mankind". They both follow a similar trajectory - what if women were an integral part of the early space race and helped us to…

👀 Read more: https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2025/06/book-review-the-martian-contingency-by-mary-robinette-kowal/
⸻
#BookReview #MaryRobinetteKowal

Book Review: The Martian Contingency by Mary Robinette Kowal

https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2025/06/book-review-the-martian-contingency-by-mary-robinette-kowal/

The Lady Astronaut books are an absolute triumph - it's just a shame that they've been somewhat overshadowed by the TV series "For All Mankind". They both follow a similar trajectory - what if women were an integral part of the early space race and helped us to colonise off-world? The books, thankfully, don't pad out as much as the rival show - this latest novel is tightly focussed and takes us to the Mars base where shenanigans are afoot.

For a sci-fi nerd like me, it is total catnip. A heady mix of brain-tangling "what ifs" and the geeky joy of "competency porn". The language is gorgeous with some beautiful turns of phrase, and the pacing does an excellent job of ratcheting up the tension.

My only criticism is that Elma is such an ineffective character. She seems to forget that she's one of the most senior people on the mission and has the right - nay! the duty! - to get answers. Her lack of confidence isn't a quirky character flaw; it is a profoundly irritating co-star.

I love the world building, the jokey asides, and the sense of purpose all the characters have. The moral dilemmas and Politics are well articulated and don't feel tacked on. It's worth picking up the whole series.

#BookReview #MaryRobinetteKowal

The new Lady Astronaut book from @maryrobinette, “The Martian Contingency” dropped today. ($12 for DRM-free epub from ebooks.com.) #LadyAstronaut #MaryRobinetteKowal

@vicgrinberg Mary Robinette-Kowal’s Lady Astronaut books - I powered through the three of them in a few days just a week or so ago! #ScienceFiction #SciFi #MaryRobinetteKowal

I’ve read all three of Mary Robinette-Kowal’s The Lady Astronaut books in the last 7 days! Very highly recommended. A ‘For All Mankind’ vibe insofar as they are set in an alternate 20th century timeline with a big impact on the development of space travel…..but no spoilers! Go! Read! #MaryRobinetteKowal #TheLadyAstronaut #ScienceFiction #SciFi #Bookstodon

I'd never read anything by #MaryRobinetteKowal but because of the Kickstarter running currently, I am now.
Finished the short story #TheLadyAstonautOfMars earlier and am four chapters into #TheCalculatingStars
Really enjoying this. Unfortunately I have to go fix dinner now.
@bookstodon #Reading

📚 Uncanny Issue 56 edited by Lynne M. Thomas, Michael Damian Thomas, and Michi Trota: Favorites from Mary Robinette Kowal and Alex Jennings in this issue. …

Read the rest: https://michaelhans.com/eclecticism/2023/12/26/%f0%9f%93%9a-uncanny-issue-56-edited-by-lynne-m-thomas-michael-damian-thomas-and-michi-trota/ (#AlexJennings #LynneMThomas #MaryRobinetteKowal #MichaelDamianThomas #MichiTrota #Uncanny)

📚 Uncanny Issue 56 edited by Lynne M. Thomas, Michael Damian Thomas, and Michi Trota: Favorites from Mary Robinette Kowal and Alex Jennings in this issue. …

Read the rest: https://michaelhans.com/eclecticism/2023/12/26/%f0%9f%93%9a-uncanny-issue-56-edited-by-lynne-m-thomas-michael-damian-thomas-and-michi-trota/ (#AlexJennings #LynneMThomas #MaryRobinetteKowal #MichaelDamianThomas #MichiTrota #Uncanny)

📚 Uncanny Issue 56 edited by Lynne M. Thomas, Michael Damian Thomas, and Michi Trota: Favorites from Mary Robinette Kowal and Alex Jennings in this issue. …

Read the rest: https://michaelhans.com/eclecticism/2023/12/26/%f0%9f%93%9a-uncanny-issue-56-edited-by-lynne-m-thomas-michael-damian-thomas-and-michi-trota/ (#AlexJennings #LynneMThomas #MaryRobinetteKowal #MichaelDamianThomas #MichiTrota #Uncanny)

📚 Uncanny Issue 56 edited by Lynne M. Thomas, Michael Damian Thomas, and Michi Trota: Favorites from Mary Robinette Kowal and Alex Jennings in this issue. …

Read the rest: https://michaelhans.com/eclecticism/2023/12/26/%f0%9f%93%9a-uncanny-issue-56-edited-by-lynne-m-thomas-michael-damian-thomas-and-michi-trota/ (#AlexJennings #LynneMThomas #MaryRobinetteKowal #MichaelDamianThomas #MichiTrota #Uncanny)

@Natoo #SeananMcguire
#UrsulaVernon
#JohnScalzi
#maryrobinettekowal
#sarahgailey
#JimButcher

Book 12: "The Spare Man" by #MaryRobinetteKowal.

I've read and enjoyed all of Kowal's books. The worldbuilding is considered & smart, and her characters are always horny for each other (often, newlyweds).

Didn't expect a mystery, but this was fun. Initially annoyed by all the cocktail recipes, but she persuaded me to seek out complex flavors of the non-alcoholic variety (my preference). I always learn something from her, including a 5-senses grounding technique.

#Bookstodon #Books @bookstodon

I have just discovered Mary Robinette Kowal's writing advice Youtube channel and it is amazing.

#Writing #Fiction #MaryRobinetteKowal

https://www.youtube.com/@MaryRobinetteKowal

Lektoriert: »Für die Sterne bestimmt (Lady Astronaut 2)«
Mit »Für die Sterne bestimmt« setzt Mary Robinette Kowal die in »Die Berechnung der Sterne« begonnene Geschichte fort. Der Band ist bereits letzten Oktober erschienen und wurde erneut von Judith C. Vogt übersetzt.

Elma will endlich ins All fliegen,
https://lass-den-wookie-gewinnen.de/2023/02/21/lektoriert-fuer-die-sterne-bestimmt-lady-astronaut-2/
#Übersetztes/Lektoriertes #Lektoriert #MaryRobinetteKowal #Piper

@bigbeardedbookseller seven of my favourites, among many, many more, are (in no particular order):
#GuyGavrielKay #NKJemisin #SusannaKearsley #MichelleSagaraWest #MaryRobinetteKowal #CSHarris #DeannaRaybourn

@albinokid #Bookstodon A few of my favorite jump-to-the-top-of-the-tbr-when-they-publish authors:
#JohnScalzi #SeananMcguire #PatrickRothfuss #MaryRobinetteKowal #KevinHearne #ScottLynch #NealStephenson #WilliamGibson #CharlesStross #PatriciaBriggs Oh that's 10 already? Whoops.

@albinokid I’ve got a bunch, and it probably rotates by the day/week/month but here’s a for today list #JamesSACorey #nkjemisin #johnscalzi #stephenking #emilystjohnmandell I’m not sure how popular St John Mandell is, but hell, her books are amazing. If I were to boost only one on my current list, it would be her. Also, #JoeAbercrombie #chuckwendig #KenLiu #AndyWeir #ColsonWhitehead #MadelineMiller #FrankHerbert #JRRTolkein #MaryRobinetteKowal #DouglasAdams and #KurtVonnegut