Class: Fiction
Reviewed by: Susan Raizer
Title: Essential Mass
Writer: Daniel Suarez
NSS Amazon hyperlink for this e-book
Format: Hardcover/Kindle
Pages: 464 pages
Writer: Dutton
Date: January 2023
Retail Worth: $28.00/$14.99
ISBN: 978-0593183632
Be aware: I reviewed an advance proof and a few modifications might have occurred earlier than the e-book was revealed.
Essential Mass is the sequel to the writer’s Delta-V (reviewed beforehand). That is the seventh e-book written by New York Occasions bestselling writer, Daniel Suarez. It’s a high-tech fiction novel about how a various group of people that solely needed to rescue mates stranded close to an asteroid, grow to be the impetus for innovation and hope for an Earth that’s quickly succumbing to the disasters of local weather change. Not solely do their efforts lead to new applied sciences, but in addition in a brand new cadre of astropreneurs (Earth-based innovators who use area supplies for the advantage of people each on the planet and in area), who use the modifications to additionally create a brand new world financial system tied to bettering the deleterious impact of local weather change, which is crucial for the continuation of life on Earth.
The writer, Daniel Suarez, was a former techniques marketing consultant to a number of the main Fortune 1000 firms. Previous to the completion of the topic e-book, he authored Daemon, Freedom, Kill Resolution, Inflow and Change Agent. His books are science fiction suspense novels that heart on high-tech improvements.
The e-book begins with the return to Earth of three of the eight Astro miners that readers met in Delta-V. Three died close to the asteroid they had been mining, and two stay on their ship, the Konstantin. The three who returned are met with awe by some, condemnation and vilification by others, and disbelief by many. The character John Tighe returns with two impacts on his life: he has most cancers and he’s mono-focused to discover a option to rescue his two mates nonetheless in area. He’s extra determined for the latter particularly when their final communication reveals that the Konstantin has been taken over by the North Koreans and the destiny of the miners is unknown. Added to that is the truth that the closest transit to the asteroid will once more occur in 4 years. The return of the three has expanded world tensions, which threatens to thwart the plans for the rescue. Their solely hope is to construct their very own spaceship.
Unbeknownst to many, the vilified billionaire who constructed the Konstantin and its ancillary gear, additionally secretly constructed the shell of a spin-gravity area station and left plans to construct a station on the Moon with a view to mine the regolith on the Moon. By constructing out the area station with supplies harvested on the asteroid and despatched again to Earth, our protagonists might then construct the primary orbiting photo voltaic powered satellite tv for pc and robots to mine the Moon and utilizing in situ supplies to construct a mass driver to launch their spaceship. All of the engineering can also be accompanied by the institution of a brand new crypto forex that’s tied to reversing world warming.
John Tighe’s most cancers is cured and supporters among the many main area firms launch him and his colleagues to the area station together with professionals in numerous disciplines and two worldwide observers. Over time, the station, named Clarke Station after one of many misplaced miners, is constructed, and increasingly folks come to reside and work on the station. Many scientific, engineering and technological advances are made not simply to additional their agenda, however to enhance life on Earth. By studying how one can use the sources from the Moon and area, new applied sciences are additionally created to enhance life on Earth. The transition to an area sourced reservoir of supplies may also help the consequences of local weather change be reversed.
Though there are increasingly supporters for the area station and the Moon operations, there are nonetheless detractors particularly when our protagonists notice that the one option to get to the asteroid in time is by utilizing nuclear energy (therefore the title of the e-book). They do use a type of nuclear energy and launch to the asteroid, solely to seek out one in every of their mates and several other North Koreans residing in poor circumstances.
The e-book comprises illustrations of the area station, robotic tug and a satellite tv for pc. The e-book additionally comprises a bibliography for additional research.
This reviewer recommends Essential Mass to Nationwide Area Society members for a number of causes. First, the e-book is well-written and retains the reader’s curiosity. Second, the e-book touches on the very delicate subject of how local weather change is impacting the Earth and its folks. Third, for the engineering-inclined amongst our membership, the outline of the state-of-the artwork technological gear is each fascinating and difficult. Fourth, with all of the non-public contractors at the moment working within the area area, the e-book gives the reader with an in-depth training within the authorized, political and moral realties that these firms now face in the event that they need to proceed working in area.
© 2023 Susan Raizer
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