Praise for The Spare Man:
A 2023 Hugo Award Finalist!
A 2022 Locus Magazine Recommended Reading List pick!
“Rarely is science fiction as entertaining and fun as The Spare Man is from start to finish. Mary Robinette Kowal is a modern master of the genre.”—John Scalzi, New York Times bestselling author
“Kowal’s comedy-of-manners SF mystery is a rollicking case of knowing when to throw decorum out the window in order to get results. Highly recommended for... anyone who loves a good mystery in an out-of-this-world setting.”—Library Journal, starred review
“A perfect latter-stages-of-a-pandemic read, The Spare Man is a balm for those who are re-learning how to be in a changed (real) world.”—Locus
“Kowal expertly weaves in red herrings and twists right up to the unmasking of the killer, and punctuates the suspense with moments of sparkling wit... this is a page-turner.”—Publishers Weekly
“Kowal delivers a fast-paced thrill ride that places a traditional hard-boiled detective story in space... readers of traditional detective stories and science fiction alike will not be disappointed.”—Booklist
Praise for The Calculating Stars and the Lady Astronaut series:
“The Calculating Stars is a wonderful, scientifically accurate view of what might have been. Kowal masters both science and historical accuracy in this alternate history adventure.”—Andy Weir, author of The Martian
“This is what NASA never had, a heroine with attitude.”—The Wall Street Journal
“Readers will thrill to the story of this ‘lady astronaut’ and eagerly anticipate the promised sequels.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Kowal’s book was revelatory for me, because here is a version of history where men eventually, finally, listen to women.”—Tor.com
“A fine balance of integrating historical accuracy—including mid-twentieth-century sexism, racism, and technology—with speculative storytelling.”—Booklist
“Readers will be hooked.”—Library Journal
“These are really outstanding books. They strongly remind me of James A. Michener's Space in style and substance. Fiction tightly intertwined with real history. It feels like Kowal is giving life to the stories of those you actually knew from history books.”—Jim Wright, Stonekettle Station
07/18/2022
An engineering magnate gets swept into a murder investigation in this vibrant space mystery from Kowal (the Lady Astronaut series). Communications scion Tesla Crane and her new husband, retired detective Shal Steward, take their honeymoon on a luxury spaceship en route to Mars under assumed identities to avoid publicity. When Shal witnesses the murder of the ultra-wealthy Haldan Kuznetsova’s assistant, George, Shal becomes the ship’s retrograde security team’s prime suspect, leaving Tesla and Shal determined to catch the real killer. Their sleuthing grows complicated, however, as promising leads crumble, suspects get murdered, and Tesla’s true identity gets out. Meanwhile, Tesla struggles to cope with her trauma from a lab accident years prior that killed six colleagues and left her in chronic pain. Kowal expertly weaves in red herrings and twists right up to the unmasking of the killer, and punctuates the suspense with moments of sparkling wit and the antics of Tesla’s therapy dog, Gimlet. The author’s nuanced portrayal of Tesla’s disabilities and the complexities of the technology that assists her to navigate them is particularly welcome. This is a page-turner. (Oct.)
★ 08/01/2022
In the latest from Kowal (author of the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus Award winner The Calculating Stars), Tesla Crane and her brand-new spouse are on their honeymoon cruise. It's a rare opportunity for the famous heiress to spend a few days wrapped in luxury and anonymity while canoodling with her almost-as-famous husband. It's all fun and sexy games until they stumble over a dead body and the witless ship's security tries to pin the blame on Tesla's spouse. That's when the gloves come off, and the real Tesla stands up and investigates a sudden murder spree on this intergalactic cruise liner on its way between Luna and Mars. Tesla is a woman who keeps standing up in spite of devastating chronic pain and PTSD—always with a dash of gin, a load of snark, and a dogged determination to use her fame and fortune to make sure that everyone gets a fair shake. VERDICT Kowal's comedy-of-manners SF mystery is a rollicking case of knowing when to throw decorum out the window in order to get results. Highly recommended for fans of the author's Regency fantasy series "The Glamourist Histories," as well as anyone who loves a good mystery in an out-of-this-world setting.—Marlene Harris
