Welcome to this week’s #FearlessWomen post, where for the next several months, I’m celebrating the releases of some Tor Books Fearless Women authors! Today is an especially big day because I have not one but TWO #FearlessWomen books to share! Here is the second awesome book you need to check out, The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal! And in case you haven’t heard about #FearlessWomen yet, here’s what the campaign is about:
Women are shining in every genre of speculative fiction, and it is no longer enough to say “Women are here.” Instead, #FearlessWomen everywhere are taking a stand to say “Women will thrive here.”
Highlighting major titles from bestselling authors V.E. Schwab, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Jacqueline Carey as well as titles from acclaimed and debut authors such as Mary Robinette Kowal, Tessa Gratton, Sam Hawke, and Robyn Bennis, #FearlessWomen will be a coordinated social media celebration encouraging fans to start a dialogue about women in publishing, their worlds, their voices, and their unique stories.
Tor Books’ handles across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@torbooks) will be using the hashtags #FearlessWomen (and #FearlessFantasy and #FearlessSF) to promote excerpts, exclusive content, quizzes and giveaways beginning in May. There will also be exclusive giveaways at BookCon, San Diego Comic-Con, and New York Comic Con. Follow Tor Books online, join the conversation – and get reading!
And now for my next highlighted book today, The Calculating Stars! Check out the cover, read the story blurb, and don’t forget to read my exclusive excerpt from the book:
On a cold spring night in 1952, a huge meteorite fell to earth and obliterated much of the east coast of the United States, including Washington D.C. The ensuing climate cataclysm will soon render the earth inhospitable for humanity, as the last such meteorite did for the dinosaurs. This looming threat calls for a radically accelerated effort to colonize space, and requires a much larger share of humanity to take part in the process.
Elma York’s experience as a WASP pilot and mathematician earns her a place in the International Aerospace Coalition’s attempts to put man on the moon, as a calculator. But with so many skilled and experienced women pilots and scientists involved with the program, it doesn’t take long before Elma begins to wonder why they can’t go into space, too.
Elma’s drive to become the first Lady Astronaut is so strong that even the most dearly held conventions of society may not stand a chance against her.
Exclusive excerpt:
In the mirror, it looked as though a ghoul had come to shop. I’d thought I looked homeless, but really, I looked as if I hadn’t truly survived the impact. Both of my eyes were blackened. I had tiny cuts all over my face and arms. Something had hit me, right below my hairline, and left a scrape. But I was alive.
“. . . and those tidal waves have also swamped the Caribbean, leaving many nations there without water or electricity. The devastation is said to number in the hundreds of thousands . . .”
I opened the door of the dressing room and tried to tune out the radio. “Silly me. It’s the wrong size.”
The saleslady came over to help me and we consulted on sizes and current fashion while the news continued in the background. It was like playing the fiddle while Rome burned around us.
About the author:
MARY ROBINETTE KOWAL is the author of the historical fantasy novels Ghost Talkers and the five books in The Glamourist Histories series. She is also a multiple Hugo Award winner. Her short fiction has appeared in Uncanny, Tor.com, and Asimov’s. Mary, a professional puppeteer, lives in Chicago with her husband Robert and over a dozen manual typewriters.
And you can follow the other #FearlessWomen participants as well! Each one will have exclusive content on their blog posts, so check them out:
This is a Metaphor
Dark Faerie Tales
Cherry Blossoms & Maple Syrup
SciFi Chick
The Bibliosanctum
Tenacious Reader
Itching For Books
Across the Words
Fantasy Literature
I’ve loved everything I’ve read from Kowal, and I’m sure this one will be no exception. Despite my own hatred of the subject, I love a mathematically minded protagonist!
Danya @ Fine Print recently posted…Monthly Recap: June 2018
Ha ha, I know what you mean. Math is not my strong suit, but I loved Hidden Figures and it sounds like some similar story ideas:-)
I haven’t read any of Kowal’s own books but she’s also the reader in Seanan McGuire’s Toby Daye audiobooks. Kowal is an excellent narrator and has a very impressive range of voices.
Mervi recently posted…Russell Blake: Fatal Exchange
Oh wow, I didn’t know that. Good to know!
Now that is a cool cover and the plot sounds fantastic too! This wasn’t on my radar but now it is 🙂
I love the cover as well:-)
I love the sound of this one – and I’m not quite sure how I let this one slip between my fingers, except that I’ve rather a lot on my plate at present… As ever, you have managed to snaffle a brilliant-sounding book, Tammy:)
It does sound good, right? I love anything to do with women in the field of science, so hopefully it will fit the bill:-)
This is another book that I’m really intrigued about. I love the concept and the cover is just so eye catching.
I’m just loving this ‘fearless women’ event.
Lynn 😀
Me too, it’s always a good thing to highlight women authors whenever possible:-)
Ooh, you got a great excerpt! It’s a fantastic intro to the character 🙂
I agree, it definitely makes me excited to check this out:-)
This is a “must read” book, indeed: much as I enjoyed Kowal’s Glamourists series, I’d love to sample her writing in a different genre… 🙂
Maddalena@spaceandsorcery recently posted…Review: THE FLOWERS OF VASHNOI (Vorkosigan Saga #14.1), by Lois McMaster Bujold
I haven’t read the Glamourist books but I have met Kowal at a convention and she was really nice:-)