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The story tracks former astronaut Richard Baedecker, who is plagued by feelings of not doing anything meaningful in his post-NASA job, a divorce and an estranged son. The son has taken up with an Indian guru, seeking something he is not getting from his famous father, while Richard cannot seem to find a way to re-connect with his son, but does manage to connect with his son's semi-girlfriend. That connection leads him on a search for what is meaningful for him, from recollections of the items he left on the moon as a permanent mark on that world, to finding the magic of high places. His final actions of this book show that he has found, at least for him, some answers to the meaning of life, answers that will resonate with most readers.
This story is told very stylistically, with clean descriptions, very quiet actions, and with quick flashes backward and forward in time - potentially a confusing method of telling a story, but Simmons brings this off nicely. Richard's character is nicely portrayed, building on his recollections of his past exploits and his current interactions with those around him to show a fully realized man, one who has many doubts, fears, and sometimes moments of happiness. The characters around him, while not shown in as great a depth, are more than adequately developed, especially Dave, his former NASA crewmate. Perhaps the best item about this book is that all the characters and themes are developed by showing, not telling or pontificating.
The dream of space flight is here, still dazzling, but it is shown in today's light, not center-focus, almost just a background to Richard's story. And as such, I found some of this heavy going, for regardless of how realistic this portrayal is, for me that dream has not died, and if I can help it, it never will. Perhaps this book can help galvanize people into once more putting real effort into making this dream a true, commonplace, and daily reality.
--- Reviewed by Patrick Shepherd (hyperpat)
The book is well written and characterised, and is never less than interesting. One tiny criticism is that it's not quite as clever as it thinks it is, the reader is left wanting to know more, but in a slightly disatisfied way. That being said, it's certainly worthy of investing a day or so in it, as I'd rather have read it than not.England
I might be slightly biased to Dan Simmons' work but this is surely one of his finest books. Whilst it defies classification , no horror or scifi here, it is an intriguing tale of self discovery and more importantly the discovery that man is not Atlas , the titan who carries the whole world on his shoulders.
This book had a profound impact on my life and if I could take 5 books to a deserted island this would be one of them. Superb!
A rounded story, well told, about an ex-astronaut, Richard Baedecker and his search for meaning in his life. Read more
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