Moon Goddss & Son

Yes, this book is dated on a number of levels, principally the fact that there is no longer a U.S.S.R. and also that we haven't moved aggressively into space. That aside, the book is interesting when comparing its philosophy and predictions to current events. Both the missile shield debate and the September 11 terrorist attack are predicted in altered forms. Regarding missile defense, for example, Kingsbury implies that a missile shield could be an invaluable defensive weapon, rather than, as the New York Times editorial board would have us believe, just a destabilizing, costly piece of junk. Also, the effect of terrorist attacks by airplane on a country's capital were correctly prognosticated: when the U.S. capital was attacked on September 11, the military went to threatcon delta, the highest level of military alert. Granted, the military response of the U.S. has been completely opposite that of the U.S.S.R. in Kingsbury's book, but some of the actions and the general sense of paranoia are eerily foretold. Overall, an excellent book. Too scattered in its several storylines to be a real novel, the book is more a rumination on psychology, geopolitics, technology and interpersonal relations, with conclusions that resonate with the crises of the day.

This one is on the short list. One of my five favorite SF novels of all time along. A very strange novel with several strands of stories going on at the same time and only touching together at the end.

If you like "hard SF" with lots of technological and social ideas and economics as well, this book is for you. Good and readable, with some memorable characters, set in the early 21st century. Innovative space launch systems and orbital space port design, and a systems engineering approach to one way to make space development happen.