Murder on the Lunar Express.

The Apollo Murders was one of the first things that I put on my 2021 Geekmas list - how could I not want to read an alternate history space program murder mystery suspense novel written by an ex-astronaut and set against the backdrop of a final Moon landing made by Apollo 18, not 17?

That being said, I'm sorry to say that I didn't completely love Chris Hadfield's first foray into fiction, although I also have to say that it's not bad, I simply had extremely high hopes for this book that it didn't manage to achieve.  It's certainly competently written, Hadfield obviously knows how to put words on paper - I particularly liked the first-person prologue in which the protagonist, Kaz Zemeckis, loses his eye in a flying accident - but for me it didn't quite succeed as a suspense novel.  

As you would expect, the technical aspects of preparing and launching a mission to the Moon are impeccably detailed and accurate, to the point where I have to wonder if less dedicated fans of the space program might lose interest.*  There's a strong flavour of Tom Clancy in the late Cold War period storyline - not quite with the same degree of conflict that Clancy brought to his novels, but plausibly dramatic in its motivations and machinations.  

Much of the action in the second half of the novel involves the villain of the story, and whereas I appreciate the importance of what's going on during that part of the book, I wish that Hadfield had found a way to better combine that action with the hero of the piece.  Zemeckis, the one-eyed guitar-playing ex-pilot turned slightly reluctant government operative, just isn't on the centre stage as much as I wanted him to be, and I would also have liked to have seen him more involved in the process of discovering the identity of the traitor in the astronaut program.  Zemeckis does make some deductions on his own, but overall the path from suspicion to suspect is more circumstantial than definitive.

I don't for a moment want to suggest that Hadfield should abandon his new niche as a writer of astronaut suspense novels, given his undeniable writing skills and his uniquely comprehensive and personal knowledge of the hardware and processes involved.  I view The Apollo Murders as an acceptable and well-executed freshman piece, and I have no doubt that the Commander will only improve as he continues his new career.

With the possibility of a second novel on the table, I have a modest suggestion for Mr. Hadfield.  NASA has announced that the International Space Station is going to be retired in 2030 by having it leave orbit and make a fiery descent into the Pacific Ocean, far from land.  Chris, in the unlikely event that you're reading this, how about setting a climactic struggle in the abandoned ISS as it begins its return to Earth?  I suspect that NASA has thoroughly modelled the phases of the space station's destruction as it plunges toward the ocean, and with that information I think it's safe to say that you have the required amount of insider knowledge to make the scene work, and for the hero to make a plausible escape at the last possible minute.  Now all we need is a reason for them being there - which I am happy to leave in Hadfield's capable and creative hands.

- Sid

* On the other hand, if you're not a fan of the space program, why are you reading something called The Apollo Murders written by an ex-astronaut?

Virtual Dreams V: Inner Space

I find it oddly relaxing to spend time in the Mission: ISS virtual reality program, just floating around the International Space Station - I wonder if Chris Hadfield ever does this just for old time's sake?

- Sid

Resolve.

I'm both pleased and disappointed to announce that I'm rolling over the book cataloguing project as my New Year's resolution for yet another year.

As with so many resolutions, compliance has been a challenge.  I've managed to keep up in terms of logging the replacement copies that I've found to date, so that I'm keeping what I have gotten done current, but I haven't made a lot of progress in completing the balance of the book logging.

In my defense, it hasn't helped that I've had to pack (and unpack) all my books twice in the last two years, which has not helped to move the project along - not to mention causing some concerns that something is going to slip through the cracks.

That being said, the book catalogue has been incredibly useful, even as a work in progress. The original project may not be complete, but the ancillary task of replacing the more battered selections in my library has been a complete success.

It's given me definite direction for book shopping, both in terms of providing guidance for purchasing replacement copies for those unfortunate texts that were more than ready for retirement, but also letting me know what I already have on my shelves and thereby letting me pick out used books that I don't already own.

It's also made me a far more aware shopper in terms of general used book inventory.  I've found some replacement copies that were in surprisingly good condition, but I've also seen some books for sale that I can't imagine a used book seller accepting in the first place.  Apparently my standards for book quality are higher than the current industry requirements - either that, or the supply of used books is limited to such an extent that beggars can't be choosers when it comes to accepting what comes through the door.

Fingers crossed that I get some more traction on the catalogue in 2022, but if not, well, it's a hobby, not a job - and it's not a bad thing to have something in my life where I have the freedom to just ignore the deadline if I feel like it.

- Sid