The Calculating Stars is subtitled: A Lady Astronaut Novel.
Okay, big confession time: Fan Girl moment when I saw this one in the Audible listing. Mary Robinette Kowal is one of the "gang" who are part of the Writing Excuses podcast, led by Brandon Sanderson. I've heard her talk about her books from time to time, the behind-the-scenes moments, the decisions made, the changes, the whole process of writing and putting a story together, deciding on character traits and actions. So it's major cool for me to read (or in this case hear) a book by one of my "teachers."
Especially when -- even cooler -- she narrated the book herself. No one better than the author to know how characters should sound. I have to check if she has a background in theater, because she's good at doing voices -- just the right distinction in rhythm and tone to set characters apart without being heavy-handed.
What's the story about? Post-World War II USA is hit by a meteor that wipes out Washington, DC. Along with the damage to the infrastructure, the political repercussions, thanks to the dust and water in the air, the cloud cover that settles in for years, there's a big climate change. Essentially, the clock has started ticking toward what the scientists, including the heroine, Elma York, believe could be an extinction event. Thus begins the race to get into space, to set up colonies off-world. Elma, as a WWII pilot and mathematician (think the ladies who worked as calculators in Hidden Figures), and married to the foremost rocket specialist in the country, is in the middle of it all. More than the fascinating progress of development to space flight is the battle to get the authorities (meaning the male-dominated government/space program/military) to recognize that women have just as much to contribute to the effort as men, and are just as capable as the men of handling space flight. Face it: if the Human race leaves Earth, women are going to have to go into space eventually, otherwise what's the use?
A thoroughly captivating listening experience. Try it, you'll love it. Another author whose other works I'm going to have to explore further.
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