You can’t go into a Kim Stanley Robinson novel expecting a fast, light read. Robinson typically writes compelling epics with a large cast of characters and Aurora is right in there – a classic Kim Stanley Robinson novel.
Humanity’s efforts to colonize beyond our own solar system take a step closer to reality as a series of generation starships are launched, each with their own, different goal of a planet in a solar system to ultimately colonize. The ship we follow in this book is Aurora, headed to the Tau Ceti system.
This is not a journey of a lifetime, it is a journey of several lifetimes. Most of those who begin the trip will not live to see the end. And as much as man can plan and prepare for such a journey, the unexpected is still likely to occur and important, human, decisions will need to be made.
Part of what is so fascinating about this book is that our narrator is the ship itself, Freya, the main computer. And what would an artificial intelligence make of humanity after observing and maintaining people for 150 years? Do humans stay motivated and driven for a purpose, or do they lose sight of their goals when a new generation develops?
This is a fascinating and compelling epic, and as with anything Robinson writes, it’s well thought through and beautiful and engaging.
The end comes as a bit of a surprise (to me, at least), and still it works so well and the reader can’t help but be drawn in.
This is highly recommended.
Looking for a good book? Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson epic science fiction on a grand scale and a truly beautiful book to read.
I purchased a copy of this book at my local bookstore. You should, too!
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Aurora
author: Kim Stanley Robinson
publisher: Orbit
ISBN: 0316098108
hardcover, 466 pages
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