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Books matching: ethical dilemmas in space exploration

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  1. #1

    To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers
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    A beautifully written, science-driven meditation on space exploration, knowledge, and humanity - full of awe and empathy, but slow and contemplative. Perfect if you like thoughtful sci-fi, but may not satisfy those craving action or tidy conclusions.

    'To Be Taught, If Fortunate' by Becky Chambers is a novella that follows a crew of four astronauts on a scientific mission to explore distant planets that may contain life. The book is written in the form of a diary, providing insights into the narrator's experiences and thoughts as they navigate through different planets, facing moments of jubilation and crisis. The story delves into themes of space exploration, human adaptation, and ethical considerations in encountering alien life forms.

    Chambers' writing style in this novella is described as compelling, philosophical, and thought-provoking. The narrative focuses on the crew's scientific exploration, their excitement about discoveries, and the ethical dilemmas they encounter while maintaining communication with Earth. The character development, particularly of the narrator, is highlighted, providing a personal touch to the story as the crew grapples with the vastness of space and their own place in the universe.

    If you read nothing else we’ve sent home, please at least read this. I ask knowing full well that this request is antithetical to what I believe in my heart of hearts. Our mission reports contain our...
    September 2019
    168 pages

  2. #2

    The Quantum Magician - The Quantum Evolution by Derek Kunsken
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    A brainy, bold space-heist caper with big ideas, quirky characters, and a quantum twist - perfect for adventurous sci-fi fans who like their stories smart, ambitious, and just a bit weird.

    The Quantum Magician by Derek Kunsken is a science fiction novel that follows the protagonist, Belisarius Arjona, a Homo quantus who is a con man approached to help transport a fleet through a guarded wormhole. The book delves into a complex heist plot involving genetically engineered races, diverse characters with unique skills, and a mix of advanced technology and quantum mechanics. The narrative features a mix of space opera elements, odd cultures, and a backdrop of empires in conflict, all set in a widespread future that touches on quantum mechanics and human genetic modifications.

    BELISARIUS ARJONA WAS perhaps the only con man who drew parallels between his confidence schemes and the quantum world. Ask a question about frequency, and the electron appeared to be a wave. Ask a qu...
    October 2018
    480 pages

  3. #3

    Goldilocks by Laura Lam
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    A thoughtful, female-driven space thriller with topical themes and emotional depth - perfect for fans of near-future dystopias and suspenseful sci-fi, even if it isn’t totally flawless.

    In a not too distant future when climate change has made Earth almost uninhabitable, humans have figured out faster than light travel and they've found a distant planet that has good conditions for human habitation. Women's rights have eroded, and even though there are many women who are highly qualified to fly in space, a group of men is going to be the first to go to the new planet. However, a crew of women steal the spaceship and plan to go to the planet first. The mastermind behind this plot is a rich entrepreneur imagine a female Elon Musk. The book is narrated by her adopted daughter, Naomi, who has dreamed of space flight her whole life and has worked hard to achieve that goal. The book is the story of their spaceflight, interspersed with flashbacks to the deaths of Naomi's parents, being raised by her adoptive mother, and her difficult space career. Naturally the crew of the spaceship start to encounter difficulties they're in big trouble on Earth for stealing a spaceship, they discover that there's a cryogenically frozen crew of men on board, the ship's life support systems have problems and these create some moral dilemmas for the crew. This is an engaging thriller, with just enough foreshadowing to keep you guessing. The two main characters are very well developed. The other characters are a bit flat, but the book is really about the psychological tension between Naomi and Valerie.

    Goldilocks is set in the future where women are being forced out of their jobs to stay home and take care of the one child they can have before paying a steep child tax on any additional children they may have. The climate is ravaging the earth and scientists best guess is that Earth may have another 30 years before it has been completely exhausted of resources and mankind most likely will not survive. Naomi is a botanical researcher who specializes in growing plants that can survive on other planets. She is working in Scotland when her estranged mother,Valerie Black, the owner of a prestigious science company that is making a ship to travel to Cavendish. A planet in what is knows as the Goldilocks zone. An area that isn't too hot or cold and has potential to be a new home for the human race. Valerie wants to steal the ship Atalanta with 4 other women scientists and travel to Cavendish. When things start going wrong once they are in space Naomi starts to question Valerie's motives on what she hoped to accomplish on this journey. Overall I really enjoyed this story. The characters were well developed and the world building was believable and quite scary. The way the world was being run by governments is eerily similar to what is going on in the world today. If you liked The Martian or dystopian books like The Handmaid's Tale will enjoy this cautionary tale about the delicate balance of our planet and the choices we have to make.

    There would be picnic blankets laid out on the parched dirt, legs oily beneath smears of sunblock, faces shadowed by hats and hidden behind sunglasses. They’d lift their filter masks long enough to ni...
    May 2020
    362 pages

  4. #4

    Space Cadet - Heinlein's Juveniles by Robert A. Heinlein
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    A classic, Boy’s Own space adventure with lots of heart and vintage charm. If you can roll with its 1940s mindset, it’s an enjoyable and surprisingly thoughtful journey through Heinlein’s optimistic solar system.

    Space Cadet by Robert A. Heinlein is a classic YA science fiction novel set in the future where young cadets train to become members of the Interplanetary Patrol. The story follows the protagonist, Matt Dodson, and his friends as they navigate through rigorous training at the Space Academy, embark on a mission to locate a missing ship in the asteroid belt, and find themselves in a challenging situation on Venus. The book combines elements of adventure, coming-of-age, and exploration of moral and ethical dilemmas within a futuristic setting, showcasing Heinlein's focus on real science and accurate world-building.

    “Having successfully completed the field elimination tests for appointment to the position of cadet in the Interplanetary Patrol you are authorized to report to the Commandant, Terra Base, Santa Barba...
    January 1948
    249 pages

    (Also, see 100 recommendations for the series Heinlein's Juveniles )

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