Počítání hvězd – Kowal Mary Robinette (2021)

In 1952, a giant meteorite strikes Earth, destroying the entire eastern coast of the United States. Due to the subsequent climate change, our planet soon becomes uninhabitable, and humanity has only one chance for survival. They must urgently attempt to colonize space. An international coalition is formed with the goal of settling the Moon first and then Mars. Mathematician Elma York works on the project as a calculator, but she dreams of becoming an astronaut. However, she faces not only technical difficulties but also the prejudices of the majority society of the time, which prevents women from participating in space flights. As a former military pilot, she is not willing to accept this. How would people in the 1950s react to such a catastrophe and the subsequent acute threat of climate change? How will the attempt to save humanity unfold at a time when racism and sexism are societal norms? This story of alternative history does not only address the technical aspects of space exploration but also the social issues humanity faces even in the face of inevitable doom. Leading contemporary American author of sci-fi and historical fantasy Mary Robinette Kowal has received numerous prestigious awards for her trilogy about Lady Astronaut, including the Hugo Award for...