A review by nimtoaster
The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

An inspiring journey alongside a very relatable character, following the premise "Welcome to the 1950's, what if Earth was about to become unfit for life and our survival relied on the stars?". An ode to the early days of space exploration and NASA at a time where segregation against black people in the US was going strong and women were kept to the sidelines. Warning for a lot of scenes involving racism and sexism that made me extremely angry - but that was the point of it. Every step taken by the characters is a testimony to their strength, resource and resilience. 
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