“The Lady Astronaut of Mars” by Mary Robinette Kowal

[divisionsandprecisions]

Retired spaceman offered one last task that she won't return from. The essence is the same as Heinlein's "Green Hills of Earth" from 1947 (and untold thousands of stories before and after), though in this case the protagonist is a pilot and leaves behind a dying husband. Hitting heavily on the pathos of the decay of the sick elderly, crossing the line into rank attempted emotional manipulation. The entire story is predictable from the first page or so; it needs something unexpected, either to partially change the nature of the conflict or to bring it into sharper focus or to generalize it.

And what in the world kind of title is that? "Lady Astronaut" ??????

Comments

[ruthling.livejournal.com]

thank you for letting me know I don't have to read this. It sounds terrible.

MRK is a well-regarded author I find hard to take. Perhaps like Mike Resnik, who mercifully does not appear in this Hugo ballot, she is a nice person who people like and want to see happy.

[robot-culinaire.livejournal.com]

I am a tiny bit curious about her novels--sounds like she was very serious about making them sound as if they were written in 1800, not just set there, and that kind of attention detail is often a good sign. Even though the particular sub-genre they inhabit is not something I generally like.

She has many stories up on her page for free http://maryrobinettekowal.com/fiction-collectio/online-fiction/

I remember hearing "Clockwork Chickadee" which was weird and creepy and interesting. I have read a few other stories that I liked less, but I don't think I have read most of these.