by David S. Goyer and Michael Cassutt
I was searching for something different to read. I'm a big Michael Crichton fan, but there are only so many times I can re-read The Andromeda Strain (GREAT book, eh movie, like usual for his stuff). Buoyed by a review that recommended the book for those “who like fiction with their science,” I picked up Heaven’s Shadow by Batman Begins screenwriter David S. Goyer and Michael Cassutt. Before realizing a legitimate screenwriter had penned this, I thought the prose sounded like it was ready for the big screen. Turns out, the rights have been sold already.
The book's premise: NASA is sending a team of astronauts to visit Keanu, a Near-Earth Object or NEO (get it, Matrix nerds?), that was spotted a few years' prior. Set in the near future, the book feels like it could be happening today. The U.S. is in a space race with an international coalition made up of India, Russia, and Brazil. Both are gunning to reach the NEO first to claim victory and first rights on an expedition. But when both parties get to the object, things are definitely not what they seem. I got pulled into the plot, and despite a few lags, couldn't stop turning pages to find out what was happening next.
I also found myself rooting for the team leader, Zack Stewart, who embodies the “everyman adventurer.” He's a science fanatic who is dealing with personal loss and the joys of parenting a teenager. Throughout the book, his voice is the strongest among the astronauts, though I felt by the end that his voice had been overshadowed by the events happening. It was too bad because this was a man driven by his passion and you wanted things to go right for him. You just didn't get a chance to "hear" his thoughts by the end.
The pluses: The book has a lot of things going for it. As someone who used to dream of being an astronaut, the scenes of the astronauts at work and in mission control seem spot on. The technical jargon is relayed so non-techies feel included. Plus, despite some lags in the plot, the book kept up the pace just enough so that I was compelled to finish.
The minuses: It's written to be easily turned into a screenplay, so anyone looking for very lengthy description is going to be shortchanged. Also, the ending could have been better. Yes, it's set to be a trilogy. No, that's not immediately clear from the beginning--or ending--of the book. I looked it up online because after finishing the last chapter, I felt cheated out of a real ending to the story. And now I've unwittingly signed up for another series to follow (I'm looking in your direction, The Passage...) I'm not looking for the (unending) Ender's Game kind of resolution, just more than three pages for a book that was almost 400 pages long.
Recommended for: People who like science with their fiction, kids who did (or wanted to) attend space camp, fans of The X-Files, readers who want minimal description cluttering up the story.
