Kinsman: A novel (A Quantum novel)

I first read this one in 1980. It was a very enjoyable read than and continues to be so. The story follows the exploits of our hero through his early life in space. Bova's character development is some of the finest in this particular genre. I am not what you call a bit fan of "hard SiFi" but I did enjoy this read. The "tech talk" is kept to a minimum and what is present is quite understandable. If you like simply a good read, one you will probably want to read again sometime in the furture as I have and did, then I recommend this one highly.

Not exactly a prequel to Millenium, as the previous reviewer stated, but actually a collection of short stories woven together to form a novel about Chester A. Kinsman, who rises through the ranks of the Aerospace Force. He becomes the first man to make love in space. He also becomes the first person to kill someone in space - something that will come back to haunt him.Once again, Bova shows his brilliance. This is a truly entertaining story and I can't wait to read Millenium so I can go back into the world of Kinsman.

What happens when a Quaker boy decides to join the Air Force and become an Astronaut? Lives change and family struggles mirror international troubles as Chet Kinsman explores himself and space. Ben Bova wrote this book in the late 70s and placed it in the late 90s -- now! This alternate view of reality doesn't match the activities we see today, but it is a cunning tale of the beginning of space exploration. This prequel to Millenium explores the character and nature of a world famous astronaut in the making. Bova's insights into human frailty make Kinsman a believable character moving in a surrealistic space race. The book is a good read for the SF mathmatician and fun for those not so interested in the mechanics of space development. Kinsman is a good book, but fails to top my scale because it seems like a collection of short stories (which it may well have been). All too often, transitions between scenes are detailed only by the chapter heading which provides Chet Kinsman's age. This disjoint and jumping style was slightly disorienting for me and distracted from my enjoyment of the book. Well worth reading, though, from a master of hard SF