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The Cassandra Project
Two science fiction masters—Jack McDevitt and Mike Resnick—team up to deliver a classic thriller in which one man uncovers the hidden history of the United States space program…
Formerly a cynical, ambitious PR man, Jerry Culpepper finally found a client he could believe in when he was hired as NASA’s public affairs director. Proud of the Agency’s history and sure of its destiny, he was thrilled to be a part of its future.
But public disinterest and budget cuts changed that future. Now, a half century after the first Moon landing, Jerry feels like the only one with stars in his eyes.
Then a fifty-year-old secret about the Apollo XI mission is revealed, and he finds himself embroiled in the biggest controversy of the twenty-first century, one that will test his ability—and his willingness—to spin the truth about a conspiracy of reality-altering proportions...
Formerly a cynical, ambitious PR man, Jerry Culpepper finally found a client he could believe in when he was hired as NASA’s public affairs director. Proud of the Agency’s history and sure of its destiny, he was thrilled to be a part of its future.
But public disinterest and budget cuts changed that future. Now, a half century after the first Moon landing, Jerry feels like the only one with stars in his eyes.
Then a fifty-year-old secret about the Apollo XI mission is revealed, and he finds himself embroiled in the biggest controversy of the twenty-first century, one that will test his ability—and his willingness—to spin the truth about a conspiracy of reality-altering proportions...
387 pages, Hardcover
First published November 6, 2012
35 people are currently reading
778 people want to read
About the author
Jack McDevitt
186 books1,333 followersJack McDevitt is a former English teacher, naval officer, Philadelphia taxi driver, customs officer and motivational trainer. His work has been on the final ballot for the Nebula Awards for 12 of the past 13 years. His first novel, The Hercules Text, was published in the celebrated Ace Specials series and won the Philip K. Dick Special Award. In 1991, McDevitt won the first $10,000 UPC International Prize for his novella, "Ships in the Night." The Engines of God was a finalist for the Arthur C. Clarke Award, and his novella, "Time Travelers Never Die," was nominated for both the Hugo and the Nebula awards.
McDevitt lives in Georgia with his wife, Maureen, where he plays chess, reads mysteries and eats lunch regularly with his cronies.
McDevitt lives in Georgia with his wife, Maureen, where he plays chess, reads mysteries and eats lunch regularly with his cronies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 241 reviews
March 20, 2016
The biggest issue I have with this well-written, but dull, novel is it should have been a novella.
There is a SHOCK ending, which caused me to guffaw tea out of my nose and choke for ten minutes. As I am writing this I am sniffling and breathing through raw tissues still occasionally dripping out tea.
The story, if you can call it that, reads more like a 400-pages long New Yorker article describing how professional publicity agents and media consultants manage the news process for politicians, department heads, CEO's, NGO's, etc., all of whom have an interest in a secret.
'The Cassandra Project' involves following a few key characters around as they issue polite sincere denials or ask impolite questions about a supposed coverup by NASA which is hinted at in the discovery of an audio tape by an astronaut's early moon visit. The United States Presidents Johnson and Nixon may or may not have had knowledge as well.
A mystery defies solving in this way-too-long story, as Jerry Culpepper, NASA public affairs employee, professionally massages facts, gives strategic interviews and writes half-true publicity releases, deftly manufacturing NASA's public image, while at the same time, he tracks down people who were alive 50 years ago.
NASA is slowly dying from lack of funding. The year is 2019, and NASA is desperately trying to stay relevant. However, without much public enthusiasm for space travel or any money coming from Congress and the President of the United States, NASA is staying alive only by trumpeting its past successes. Unfortunately, in releasing publicity photos and other items, a recording by an astronaut orbiting the moon hinted at a landing which could not possibly have happened, as Neal Armstrong's walk on the moon is yet two launches in the future at the time of the recording. The reporters smell a coverup.
Meantime, a private businessman, billionaire Bucky Blackstone, wants to construct habitable buildings on the moon. If the governments of the world won't do it, he will. Learning from news reports that there might have been a landing earlier than the supposed first manned moon landing by Neal Armstrong, he sets out to find if there had been such a landing, and why it had been covered up.
Three-hundred-seventy pages later, gentle reader, answers are revealed.
Other reviewers have said they don't know exactly what to rate this novel. I have the same problem. It is not 'bad'. The writing is quality, the plotting sounds reasonable and researched, the ending is FUN
But yikes, what a bore it is to get there. Too much process in this journey to the moon!
There is a SHOCK ending, which caused me to guffaw tea out of my nose and choke for ten minutes. As I am writing this I am sniffling and breathing through raw tissues still occasionally dripping out tea.
The story, if you can call it that, reads more like a 400-pages long New Yorker article describing how professional publicity agents and media consultants manage the news process for politicians, department heads, CEO's, NGO's, etc., all of whom have an interest in a secret.
'The Cassandra Project' involves following a few key characters around as they issue polite sincere denials or ask impolite questions about a supposed coverup by NASA which is hinted at in the discovery of an audio tape by an astronaut's early moon visit. The United States Presidents Johnson and Nixon may or may not have had knowledge as well.
A mystery defies solving in this way-too-long story, as Jerry Culpepper, NASA public affairs employee, professionally massages facts, gives strategic interviews and writes half-true publicity releases, deftly manufacturing NASA's public image, while at the same time, he tracks down people who were alive 50 years ago.
NASA is slowly dying from lack of funding. The year is 2019, and NASA is desperately trying to stay relevant. However, without much public enthusiasm for space travel or any money coming from Congress and the President of the United States, NASA is staying alive only by trumpeting its past successes. Unfortunately, in releasing publicity photos and other items, a recording by an astronaut orbiting the moon hinted at a landing which could not possibly have happened, as Neal Armstrong's walk on the moon is yet two launches in the future at the time of the recording. The reporters smell a coverup.
Meantime, a private businessman, billionaire Bucky Blackstone, wants to construct habitable buildings on the moon. If the governments of the world won't do it, he will. Learning from news reports that there might have been a landing earlier than the supposed first manned moon landing by Neal Armstrong, he sets out to find if there had been such a landing, and why it had been covered up.
Three-hundred-seventy pages later, gentle reader, answers are revealed.
Other reviewers have said they don't know exactly what to rate this novel. I have the same problem. It is not 'bad'. The writing is quality, the plotting sounds reasonable and researched, the ending is FUN
But yikes, what a bore it is to get there. Too much process in this journey to the moon!
September 6, 2020
McDevitt and Resnick are two of my favorite writers, so maybe I was expecting too much from this one. Based on a shorter piece by McDevitt, but with a very different ending, it's a sort of alternate version of the Apollo program, but somehow just didn't grab me. I wasn't convinced by the science or the characters, and the X-Files-like twist didn't work for me, either. I kind of liked it and enjoyed the read while I was turning the pages, but felt let down when I reached the end. Sometimes it goes like that and you never figure it out...
January 23, 2013
What if Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin weren't the first astronauts to walk on the moon? Why would the US cover up earlier landings? What's on the moon to cause them to do so?
I stopped reading Jack McDevitt's work years ago because he starts with a tremendous premise and then fails to follow through. I felt that most of his books simply don't have endings. Despite the collaboration with Mike Resnick, this book has the same problem. The answer to the above questions are mind-blowingly awesome... and these guys don't do anything with it. Another fizzle.
The writing is fine; workmanlike rather than poetic or inspiring. The characters are one-dimensional, but they don't really need to be complex for a potboiler like this. There are some weird quirks, such as everyone insisting they be called by their first name. Who does that? Wouldn't at least one person insist on formality? Even just to spice things up a bit, for variety's sake if nothing else. You can tell this was written by a couple of older white guys who haven't had contact with the corporate world in along time. When is the last time anyone called someone a "secretary"? They're all assistants now and have been for at least 20 years.
There are some structural problems, too, such as the three-day voyage to the moon taking a sentence, yet once they discover the key to the mystery the scene cuts away and the flow is interrupted. If you're sending one of your protagonists to the moon, have the others do things *while* they're in transition, don't chop it up randomly.
I mean, this book isn't BAD, it just doesn't deliver on its promises. Hence the 2 stars.
I stopped reading Jack McDevitt's work years ago because he starts with a tremendous premise and then fails to follow through. I felt that most of his books simply don't have endings. Despite the collaboration with Mike Resnick, this book has the same problem. The answer to the above questions are mind-blowingly awesome... and these guys don't do anything with it. Another fizzle.
The writing is fine; workmanlike rather than poetic or inspiring. The characters are one-dimensional, but they don't really need to be complex for a potboiler like this. There are some weird quirks, such as everyone insisting they be called by their first name. Who does that? Wouldn't at least one person insist on formality? Even just to spice things up a bit, for variety's sake if nothing else. You can tell this was written by a couple of older white guys who haven't had contact with the corporate world in along time. When is the last time anyone called someone a "secretary"? They're all assistants now and have been for at least 20 years.
There are some structural problems, too, such as the three-day voyage to the moon taking a sentence, yet once they discover the key to the mystery the scene cuts away and the flow is interrupted. If you're sending one of your protagonists to the moon, have the others do things *while* they're in transition, don't chop it up randomly.
I mean, this book isn't BAD, it just doesn't deliver on its promises. Hence the 2 stars.
July 4, 2017
While this book started out great, the ending messed things up big time. Even longtime McDevitt fans--of which I am one--are bound to be disappointed.
December 30, 2012
My favorite thing about Jack McDevitt's books is their firm grounding in reality despite the fantastical things that happen in them. McDevitt has long since established himself as the go to sci-fi author for books that pack an emotional punch and really examine the repercussions of man's hubris in our never ending attempts to discover the secrets of life and the universe.
With "The Cassandra Project" McDevitt and his co-writer the equally talented Mike Resnick delves again into the pitfalls and prizes that can result when we strive to hard to find answers to questions that perhaps shouldn't have been asked.
Set in a not very distant 2016 we meet Jerry Culpepper, the charismatic, moral, and perhaps slightly naive public spokesman for the rapidly dying NASA. Faced with a near constant lack of funding and a public that no longer cares about the space program Jerry spends his days trying to drum up public enthusiasm for space probes and new galaxies in a world that is about to be confronted with life changing drugs that will increase the human life span by almost 100 years and rapidly dwindling natural resources.
Through a series of seemingly unconnected events Jerry finds himself immersed in a strange mystery concerning the original moon landings in the 1960's. Doctored photos, strange references in personal diaries and witness accounts from people who have nothing to gain shortly have him convinced that Neil Armstrong was not the first person on the moon and there seems to be a decades old, massive scale international cover up in place to keep anyone from every finding out.
McDevitt does his usual excellent job of delving into the mystery and carefully connecting dots though there are points when things feel slightly contrived. Witnesses just happen to show up just when Jerry is losing steam and there's a very useful multi billionaire with boundless enthusiasm for Jerry's story who takes care of literally every financial worry he might have and provides all the access he needs to find more information. So there isn't a lot of tension in terms of whether he'll get to the truth.
The truth however is pretty damn cool and I didn't see it coming. Yes, it stands to reason that if international super powers appear to have engaged in some sort of massive cover up about the moon landings they were probably doing it for national security reasons, but the actual reason kind of blew my mind.
McDevitt asks his usual fascinating rights of the few versus safety of society questions, is it better to know the truth and deal with the fallout or keep everyone in happy ignorance? Things feel a little ham handed this time out and I found his usually spot on character creation a little lacking, Jerry kind of disappears from the story about 3/4 of the way through in favor of the billionaire character and his conflict with the well meaning but restricted by his job and responsibilities president of the US. Still its a ripping good story and I had to really stop myself from skipping to the end to find out what was going on and when I finally got there I literally sat with my mouth hanging open for five minutes.
If you're a McDevitt fan and even if you've read the shorter story this novel is based on its worth picking this up while you wait for the next Alex Benedict novel.q
With "The Cassandra Project" McDevitt and his co-writer the equally talented Mike Resnick delves again into the pitfalls and prizes that can result when we strive to hard to find answers to questions that perhaps shouldn't have been asked.
Set in a not very distant 2016 we meet Jerry Culpepper, the charismatic, moral, and perhaps slightly naive public spokesman for the rapidly dying NASA. Faced with a near constant lack of funding and a public that no longer cares about the space program Jerry spends his days trying to drum up public enthusiasm for space probes and new galaxies in a world that is about to be confronted with life changing drugs that will increase the human life span by almost 100 years and rapidly dwindling natural resources.
Through a series of seemingly unconnected events Jerry finds himself immersed in a strange mystery concerning the original moon landings in the 1960's. Doctored photos, strange references in personal diaries and witness accounts from people who have nothing to gain shortly have him convinced that Neil Armstrong was not the first person on the moon and there seems to be a decades old, massive scale international cover up in place to keep anyone from every finding out.
McDevitt does his usual excellent job of delving into the mystery and carefully connecting dots though there are points when things feel slightly contrived. Witnesses just happen to show up just when Jerry is losing steam and there's a very useful multi billionaire with boundless enthusiasm for Jerry's story who takes care of literally every financial worry he might have and provides all the access he needs to find more information. So there isn't a lot of tension in terms of whether he'll get to the truth.
The truth however is pretty damn cool and I didn't see it coming. Yes, it stands to reason that if international super powers appear to have engaged in some sort of massive cover up about the moon landings they were probably doing it for national security reasons, but the actual reason kind of blew my mind.
McDevitt asks his usual fascinating rights of the few versus safety of society questions, is it better to know the truth and deal with the fallout or keep everyone in happy ignorance? Things feel a little ham handed this time out and I found his usually spot on character creation a little lacking, Jerry kind of disappears from the story about 3/4 of the way through in favor of the billionaire character and his conflict with the well meaning but restricted by his job and responsibilities president of the US. Still its a ripping good story and I had to really stop myself from skipping to the end to find out what was going on and when I finally got there I literally sat with my mouth hanging open for five minutes.
If you're a McDevitt fan and even if you've read the shorter story this novel is based on its worth picking this up while you wait for the next Alex Benedict novel.q
February 5, 2013
I honestly do not know how to rate this book. The dust cover classifies it as a thriller, but it's nothing thrilling about this story what so ever. At its best it's a pleasant conversation. I haven't read much of Mike Resnick - though i read Santiago many years ago and loved it. As for McDevitt I usually read his books from cover to cover in a few days. The cooperation, well, it does not deliver - and then again co-writing seldom does.
"The Cassandra Project" could really have been a dense intriguing sci-fi thriller with Nixon and a Moon-landing cover up as the base element. Instead the authors have chosen to offer a series of flat conversations on the form: "There must be something that NASA lies about" "No I can't believe it" these two lines repeat them selves through chapter over chapter. It's so thin and so very annoying.
The whole book lack any kind of suspense. The first moon-landing for over 50 years is treated within a total of about 10 pages, and the whole story unfortunately breathes of "nothing special really". I miss colourful descriptions, descriptive feelings and dense characters. As an addition to this, the text is confused about who's really the main character of the story.
Finally, about 15 pages from the end, when the "secrets" reveal them selves, I just go "Noooooooooooooo". A lame superficial connection with the crucifixion of Christ and a visit from another solar system pulls the final plug.
2 stars, not an atom more. The editor should have cried out: NO!
"The Cassandra Project" could really have been a dense intriguing sci-fi thriller with Nixon and a Moon-landing cover up as the base element. Instead the authors have chosen to offer a series of flat conversations on the form: "There must be something that NASA lies about" "No I can't believe it" these two lines repeat them selves through chapter over chapter. It's so thin and so very annoying.
The whole book lack any kind of suspense. The first moon-landing for over 50 years is treated within a total of about 10 pages, and the whole story unfortunately breathes of "nothing special really". I miss colourful descriptions, descriptive feelings and dense characters. As an addition to this, the text is confused about who's really the main character of the story.
Finally, about 15 pages from the end, when the "secrets" reveal them selves, I just go "Noooooooooooooo". A lame superficial connection with the crucifixion of Christ and a visit from another solar system pulls the final plug.
2 stars, not an atom more. The editor should have cried out: NO!
February 5, 2013
I REALLY liked this book! For me it has a great hook, and I could not wait to finish it.
It takes the NASA "Moon landing conspiracy theories" and flips them on their ears. What if we did indeed land on the moon, but it turned out to be BEFORE the July 1969 mission? Why would NASA hide that fact? Why did the President agree, when we were racing the Russians to the moon???
I LOVED the hook, and for me it does not disappoint.
It jumps right in,and gets to the pont. I was drawn in right away.
A good read!!!!!
It takes the NASA "Moon landing conspiracy theories" and flips them on their ears. What if we did indeed land on the moon, but it turned out to be BEFORE the July 1969 mission? Why would NASA hide that fact? Why did the President agree, when we were racing the Russians to the moon???
I LOVED the hook, and for me it does not disappoint.
It jumps right in,and gets to the pont. I was drawn in right away.
A good read!!!!!
January 8, 2013
Love to wonder what it will take to get us back to the moon? These two fine sf authors have taken a new approach. They've wrapped this question within an exceptionally well done, fast-paced political who-knows-what worthy of the X-files at its best. What if NASA -- or someone -- knew something about the lunar landings no one else was to know? What if that secret was so explosive, it would change the world. The main protagonist, Jerry Culpepper is a particularly enjoyable character. He's NASA's spokesperson and is not only an honest man, but a true believer in space exploration.
I won't spoil any of the story for you, but trust me, they kept me guessing until the final chapter and I didn't think they could. This would make a great film.
I won't spoil any of the story for you, but trust me, they kept me guessing until the final chapter and I didn't think they could. This would make a great film.
June 17, 2013
Would have been three stars, as the premise was compelling, but the ending was kind of a letdown. There was also some mockery of people who read or write vampire romances, which was tossed in just for laughs and wasn't nearly as funny as the authors obviously thought it was. I don't write vampire romances -- or at least, I haven't yet -- but given the current conversations in SFF about sci-fi and fantasy romance's place in the genre, I found these passages to be disappointing and disengaging.
October 23, 2012
Basically the DaVinci Code but replace Jesus with NASA and the Knights Templar with astronauts. Entertaining airplane read, but not much beyond that. . . Full review after the link.
http://www.staffersbookreview.com/201...
http://www.staffersbookreview.com/201...
July 2, 2020
***ZERO SPOILERS***
Floating between two and three stars here... I will read anything written by Jack McDevitt. I know that he can really end a story. In fact, it sets him apart. Otherwise, I probably would never have finished the book. This book dragged on way too long, but the hook was great, and the payoff was better. I worried as I closed in on the final pages that I would end up throwing this book against the wall. I'm glad that wasn't the case. Thank god the payoff was good because I was getting really annoyed at the artificial withholding of information.
One of the more fascinating and engrossing aspects of the book is the way 2019 is depicted. You realized reading it how far that year was from when the book was published (2012). In a lot of ways, it was quite prophetic. In others, it was way off the mark.
It was obviously written by an old man. I love that guy, and I hope he's doing well. He responded to an email from me once and it always makes me smile when I think about it. He's very old now. I hope he's doing alright.
Floating between two and three stars here... I will read anything written by Jack McDevitt. I know that he can really end a story. In fact, it sets him apart. Otherwise, I probably would never have finished the book. This book dragged on way too long, but the hook was great, and the payoff was better. I worried as I closed in on the final pages that I would end up throwing this book against the wall. I'm glad that wasn't the case. Thank god the payoff was good because I was getting really annoyed at the artificial withholding of information.
One of the more fascinating and engrossing aspects of the book is the way 2019 is depicted. You realized reading it how far that year was from when the book was published (2012). In a lot of ways, it was quite prophetic. In others, it was way off the mark.
It was obviously written by an old man. I love that guy, and I hope he's doing well. He responded to an email from me once and it always makes me smile when I think about it. He's very old now. I hope he's doing alright.
February 17, 2013
I picked up this book mainly because Jack McDevitt was one of the authors. He’s a nice guy to sit and chat with, if you ever have a chance, and his books often have an old fashion pulp science fiction flavor that I rather like. The Cassandra project does, which is good in some ways, but in this particular case, I think the ending suffers as a result. I’ll try to explain why later without too many spoilers.
The story is set in the U.S.A. in 2019. The world economy is in the doldrums, the rich have gotten richer, and NASA has been underfunded for years. Some people are dismayed by the fact, but no one doubts that the last moon landing was in 1972. However, there are recent rumors that Apollo XI in 1969 may not have been the first. Were there two secret landings before this, and, if so, why?
This is the central mystery of the story. It is told from multiple points of view, but the main character is Jerry Culpepper, who enters the tale as the public affairs director for NASA, and he comes to suspect that there may be some truth to the rumors. The official position he is told to convey is that there is not. He eventually quits because of this. You have to admire his personal integrity.
The other central character is Montgomery “Bucky” Blackstone, Owner of Blackstone Enterprises, Blackstone Development, and Blackstone Innovations. He’s a bit crude and extremely arrogant, but he’s a likeable rogue. Essentially, he’s a grown up kid with a LOT of money. One of the things he wants to do with it is to go to the moon — not for any noble purpose, really, but because he’s always wanted to be an astronaut, and he thinks money can be made in space.
One scene that resonated with me was a not too subtle slap at traditional publishers. In it, Jerry, after leaving NASA and realizing he needs an income, briefly takes a job with a small publisher in Wisconsin. He is given a manuscript, for which he holds no high hopes, and unexpectedly finds that it is fantastic. One of the best things he’s ever read. He tells his new employers, and they tell him to write a nice rejection letter. Why? Because, they explain, they are not in business to publish what’s good. They’re in business to publish what sells. This got a smile from me because I’ve concluded much the same thing, and it’s why more and more of my reading list is comprised of ‘indie’ published books now. That’s all beside the point, I suppose, but I wanted to mention it, and since I’m writing this, I can.
A minor point of annoyance came when Jerry, needing some analysis done, turns to someone at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Why didn’t he contact the Florida Institute of Technology instead? It’s physically closer and probably has stronger ties to NASA than UCF does. This probably would not bother someone outside the area, but it struck me as not making sense. Like I said, just a minor point.
I don’t think it’s a spoiler to reveal that in the course of the novel, clues are uncovered and the mystery is explained. I found it a bit contrived, and I think a better explanation consistent with all the clues up to this point was possible. When I reached the end, I wondered if the brief scene about Jerry’s experience working for a publisher was a clue about why this particular ending was chosen. I have no evidence of that, of course. It’s just idle speculation.
You may want to stop reading now because the next bit is a sort of spoiler, but I’ll try to keep it vague. At the end, those who can, choose not to reveal the full truth to the world. Instead, they decide to perpetuate a deception originally contrived by the Nixon administration to manipulate the Soviets (although I could not see how this would have worked on them). The deception provides a depressing and cautionary message that seems designed to preserve the status quo. The true account seemed far more hopeful and could encourage human cooperation and progress. After the last sentence, I couldn’t help wondering why they all agreed to perpetuate the lie.
Up until the last chapter, this is an interesting mystery full of secrets and conspiracy. The characters are likeable, the dialogue is believable, and the prose is suitable for the genre. Pulp sci-fi fans who also enjoy a good conspiracy novel may want to pick this up, but if you are looking for something like McDevitt’s highly enjoyable Alex Benedict novels, this isn’t one.
The story is set in the U.S.A. in 2019. The world economy is in the doldrums, the rich have gotten richer, and NASA has been underfunded for years. Some people are dismayed by the fact, but no one doubts that the last moon landing was in 1972. However, there are recent rumors that Apollo XI in 1969 may not have been the first. Were there two secret landings before this, and, if so, why?
This is the central mystery of the story. It is told from multiple points of view, but the main character is Jerry Culpepper, who enters the tale as the public affairs director for NASA, and he comes to suspect that there may be some truth to the rumors. The official position he is told to convey is that there is not. He eventually quits because of this. You have to admire his personal integrity.
The other central character is Montgomery “Bucky” Blackstone, Owner of Blackstone Enterprises, Blackstone Development, and Blackstone Innovations. He’s a bit crude and extremely arrogant, but he’s a likeable rogue. Essentially, he’s a grown up kid with a LOT of money. One of the things he wants to do with it is to go to the moon — not for any noble purpose, really, but because he’s always wanted to be an astronaut, and he thinks money can be made in space.
One scene that resonated with me was a not too subtle slap at traditional publishers. In it, Jerry, after leaving NASA and realizing he needs an income, briefly takes a job with a small publisher in Wisconsin. He is given a manuscript, for which he holds no high hopes, and unexpectedly finds that it is fantastic. One of the best things he’s ever read. He tells his new employers, and they tell him to write a nice rejection letter. Why? Because, they explain, they are not in business to publish what’s good. They’re in business to publish what sells. This got a smile from me because I’ve concluded much the same thing, and it’s why more and more of my reading list is comprised of ‘indie’ published books now. That’s all beside the point, I suppose, but I wanted to mention it, and since I’m writing this, I can.
A minor point of annoyance came when Jerry, needing some analysis done, turns to someone at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Why didn’t he contact the Florida Institute of Technology instead? It’s physically closer and probably has stronger ties to NASA than UCF does. This probably would not bother someone outside the area, but it struck me as not making sense. Like I said, just a minor point.
I don’t think it’s a spoiler to reveal that in the course of the novel, clues are uncovered and the mystery is explained. I found it a bit contrived, and I think a better explanation consistent with all the clues up to this point was possible. When I reached the end, I wondered if the brief scene about Jerry’s experience working for a publisher was a clue about why this particular ending was chosen. I have no evidence of that, of course. It’s just idle speculation.
You may want to stop reading now because the next bit is a sort of spoiler, but I’ll try to keep it vague. At the end, those who can, choose not to reveal the full truth to the world. Instead, they decide to perpetuate a deception originally contrived by the Nixon administration to manipulate the Soviets (although I could not see how this would have worked on them). The deception provides a depressing and cautionary message that seems designed to preserve the status quo. The true account seemed far more hopeful and could encourage human cooperation and progress. After the last sentence, I couldn’t help wondering why they all agreed to perpetuate the lie.
Up until the last chapter, this is an interesting mystery full of secrets and conspiracy. The characters are likeable, the dialogue is believable, and the prose is suitable for the genre. Pulp sci-fi fans who also enjoy a good conspiracy novel may want to pick this up, but if you are looking for something like McDevitt’s highly enjoyable Alex Benedict novels, this isn’t one.
March 3, 2025
A billionaire maverick entrepreneur with his own space program exposes a decades-long government cover-up.
March 24, 2013
Not McDevitt's best (I haven't read anything else by the co-author, I know nothing about what aspects the co-author contributed, though I certainly could spot McDevitt's hand at a number of points, especially his public relations plot point tendency--more so when it comes to a character going on a talk show with a vicious host)
So, I'll admit maybe I came in expecting more, maybe even more than I'd get in McDevitt's other books. In some ways this reads like the sort of mystery I've seen a number of times (and enjoyed, to varying degrees) in the Alex Benedict series. Obvious something is being covered up, we're going to figure it out against all odds. I'm not going to complain that it gets formulaic (one could), rather I think that the pieces aren't all there, place into the formula, or maybe some are there but just having been painted, or leave the corner looking rather small. The problem is that we go in looking for what really happened on the moon missions prior to Apollo XI that (we learn to the audience's satisfaction maybe a dozen pages in involved previously unknown moon landings). We then spend most of the book getting bits and pieces until we find out what they found and why it was uncovered. It's hardly a huge secret, but I won't put in the spoilers.
Part of what gets me is that nothing really happens because of the secret. Yes there is a cover up, but mostly passive, unlike with the Alex Benedict books where the characters are often in life threatening danger. Hardly anything happens after the discovery - I guess I went into this book (I don't know why) expecting them to figure out this mystery and then spending the second half of the book doing something about the mystery, but that obviously didn't happen.
So, in short, mystery is much more predictable, far smaller, than it should have been, and nothing happened because of it. I get to the end and feel gipped for all the author's talent and getting me to care about the answer to the mystery.
So, I'll admit maybe I came in expecting more, maybe even more than I'd get in McDevitt's other books. In some ways this reads like the sort of mystery I've seen a number of times (and enjoyed, to varying degrees) in the Alex Benedict series. Obvious something is being covered up, we're going to figure it out against all odds. I'm not going to complain that it gets formulaic (one could), rather I think that the pieces aren't all there, place into the formula, or maybe some are there but just having been painted, or leave the corner looking rather small. The problem is that we go in looking for what really happened on the moon missions prior to Apollo XI that (we learn to the audience's satisfaction maybe a dozen pages in involved previously unknown moon landings). We then spend most of the book getting bits and pieces until we find out what they found and why it was uncovered. It's hardly a huge secret, but I won't put in the spoilers.
Part of what gets me is that nothing really happens because of the secret. Yes there is a cover up, but mostly passive, unlike with the Alex Benedict books where the characters are often in life threatening danger. Hardly anything happens after the discovery - I guess I went into this book (I don't know why) expecting them to figure out this mystery and then spending the second half of the book doing something about the mystery, but that obviously didn't happen.
So, in short, mystery is much more predictable, far smaller, than it should have been, and nothing happened because of it. I get to the end and feel gipped for all the author's talent and getting me to care about the answer to the mystery.
December 12, 2012
Closer to a 3.5, I think. I love first contact novels, I love government conspiracies, and The Cassandra Project combines both together for a fairly quick novel. It's not going to win any writing awards, for sure, but as a quick bit of riveting escapism, I'm glad I grabbed this.
The book takes place in the near future, where NASA is underfunded as is the rest of the government as the nation continues to come out of the economic doldrums. Our main character, a high-ranking NASA official, trips up on a piece of information that quickly unravels into a far-reaching conspiracy involving former presidents, a billionaire working on a rocket of his own, and unwitting astronauts.
The book comes out of nowhere with the conclusion, and I had to laugh when we finally came to the payoff, and the ride to get there was almost a little too long, but given the fast clip of the dialogue and action, along with the interesting future history that the book sets up on and off, it was ultimately worth the trip.
The book takes place in the near future, where NASA is underfunded as is the rest of the government as the nation continues to come out of the economic doldrums. Our main character, a high-ranking NASA official, trips up on a piece of information that quickly unravels into a far-reaching conspiracy involving former presidents, a billionaire working on a rocket of his own, and unwitting astronauts.
The book comes out of nowhere with the conclusion, and I had to laugh when we finally came to the payoff, and the ride to get there was almost a little too long, but given the fast clip of the dialogue and action, along with the interesting future history that the book sets up on and off, it was ultimately worth the trip.
March 29, 2016
This was a book that was not what I usually think of as science-fiction. It was more like a political thriller or mystery. It does a good job of incorporating reality and creating a very near, very realistic future. It uses real history and real people to drive the story (such as Nixon). There is no action or alien beings (on-screen, at least).
May 15, 2020
Solid 3.5 stars.
The low rating had me concerned, but I'm a McDevitt fan so I had to give it a shot.
I enjoyed it. It could've been considerably shorter, things dragged out a bit.
The low rating had me concerned, but I'm a McDevitt fan so I had to give it a shot.
I enjoyed it. It could've been considerably shorter, things dragged out a bit.
March 18, 2017
Science fiction story about whether or not there was two lunar landing missions before 1969 when Armstrong first landed.
November 30, 2012
One leaked audio file ignites a controversy that involves NASA, private enterprise, the President of the United States, present and past, and a decades old scandal. One question, who was the first man to walk on the Moon?, sparks many more questions and piece by piece the Cassandra Project is revealed. The idea another mission, half a year before Apollo XI and another man, Sydney Myshko, might have landed on the Moon before Neil Armstrong seems like fiction and many regard it as just that. But a handful of men want to find out the truth, one because he can, the other because it’s his nature and the President because, well, it’s his job.
Morgan ‘Bucky’ Blackstone is a billionaire several times over. He is planning his own mission to the Moon and when he learns there is a mystery to be solved, he sets out to solve it. Jerry Culpepper works for NASA. He also wants to know the truth, but fears revealing it will end his career. As it turns out, simply pursing it is enough. When Bucky and Jerry join together, the facts begin to unfold, but without the aid of a President who feels betrayed by them both, they will never find the final puzzle piece.
‘The Cassandra Project’ by Jack McDevitt and Mike Resnick reads like a Jack McDevitt novel. It starts with a cover-up and one clue, just one, a mere snippet of information. Then, throughout the course of the novel, deft fingers pluck at the corner of the wallpaper, pulling it away scrap by scrap. Some pieces are too tattered to be useful, but others come away in sheets. What’s hidden beneath doesn’t always make sense. But when it does, when everything is revealed, it’s pretty awesome.
I am not as familiar with Mike Resnick’s work, having only read one of his novellas. His influence was clear, however. There are more voices in ‘The Cassandra Project’. More players. This particular mystery required a team, both on the page and behind the book.
Whoever was responsible for ‘Bucky’, well done. He was endearing. Jerry proved himself worthy of both Bucky and the reader’s respect and the President read just as he should have, a man trying to do the right thing. Behind the characters and the mystery is a clever commentary on the state of NASA today and timely questions regarding the present and future directions of science, in all fields. I enjoyed absorbing that as much as the story itself.
I would love to talk about the conclusion, which may strike some as both a reach and controversial. So as not to spoil potential readers, I will be circumspect in my comments. I loved the way the ultimate reveal was handled. An assumption is hinted at, but not outright ‘claimed’. It’s up to the reader to decide. The enormity of the assumption is pretty stunning, though, and long after I put the book aside I thought about the implications.
If not for Jack McDevitt’s name on the cover, I may not have picked up this novel. There are certain authors, however, whose work I will read without reservation, regardless of whether the subject matter interests me or not. Yes, I have had to put aside some books and I have valiantly struggled to read and understand others. But occasionally I’ll stumble across a gem. ‘The Cassandra Project’ falls into the latter category. It has also inspired me to look into more of Mike Resnick’s work, which is a win for both authors. Ultimately, however, a good book is just a good book and I highly recommend this one.
Written for and originally posted at SFCrowsnest.
Morgan ‘Bucky’ Blackstone is a billionaire several times over. He is planning his own mission to the Moon and when he learns there is a mystery to be solved, he sets out to solve it. Jerry Culpepper works for NASA. He also wants to know the truth, but fears revealing it will end his career. As it turns out, simply pursing it is enough. When Bucky and Jerry join together, the facts begin to unfold, but without the aid of a President who feels betrayed by them both, they will never find the final puzzle piece.
‘The Cassandra Project’ by Jack McDevitt and Mike Resnick reads like a Jack McDevitt novel. It starts with a cover-up and one clue, just one, a mere snippet of information. Then, throughout the course of the novel, deft fingers pluck at the corner of the wallpaper, pulling it away scrap by scrap. Some pieces are too tattered to be useful, but others come away in sheets. What’s hidden beneath doesn’t always make sense. But when it does, when everything is revealed, it’s pretty awesome.
I am not as familiar with Mike Resnick’s work, having only read one of his novellas. His influence was clear, however. There are more voices in ‘The Cassandra Project’. More players. This particular mystery required a team, both on the page and behind the book.
Whoever was responsible for ‘Bucky’, well done. He was endearing. Jerry proved himself worthy of both Bucky and the reader’s respect and the President read just as he should have, a man trying to do the right thing. Behind the characters and the mystery is a clever commentary on the state of NASA today and timely questions regarding the present and future directions of science, in all fields. I enjoyed absorbing that as much as the story itself.
I would love to talk about the conclusion, which may strike some as both a reach and controversial. So as not to spoil potential readers, I will be circumspect in my comments. I loved the way the ultimate reveal was handled. An assumption is hinted at, but not outright ‘claimed’. It’s up to the reader to decide. The enormity of the assumption is pretty stunning, though, and long after I put the book aside I thought about the implications.
If not for Jack McDevitt’s name on the cover, I may not have picked up this novel. There are certain authors, however, whose work I will read without reservation, regardless of whether the subject matter interests me or not. Yes, I have had to put aside some books and I have valiantly struggled to read and understand others. But occasionally I’ll stumble across a gem. ‘The Cassandra Project’ falls into the latter category. It has also inspired me to look into more of Mike Resnick’s work, which is a win for both authors. Ultimately, however, a good book is just a good book and I highly recommend this one.
Written for and originally posted at SFCrowsnest.
September 6, 2013
What if Neil Armstrong was not the first man on the moon?
That’s the question these two superb authors play with in this novel.
Jerry Culpepper is the public face of NASA. He does what he can to keep the flame of space exploration alive and in the public eye---and hopefully keep the government interested enough to keep funding the almost moribund space program. The time line is a few years in the future.
Bit by bit, Culpepper becomes aware of a very whacked-out conspiracy: Neil Armstrong was NOT the first man on the moon. In fact he was probably the fourth or fifth man on the moon. And Culpepper, with the help of a wonderfully eccentric billionaire created in the mode of Richard Branson (of Virgin Atlantic), agrees a privately funded flight to the moon may be just the thing to find out what’s on the dark side that both the Russians and the US wanted no one to know about during the Cold War when their animosity was at its highest?
No one in the government will confirm this, of course and the NASA records don’t confirm it, either---but all these anomalies come to light in reports of the Apollo missions before Apollo XI—and they begin to pile up and crack the mystery wide open. Culpepper tracks down the few remaining people alive at the time that either had something to do with Apollo missions in space or on the ground.
The questions that pop up are: Why were there hours missing in flyby missions when the usual spokesperson on the flight didn’t speak, especially when the capsule was on the dark side of the moon? Why is it that photographs of the dark side of the moon from these flights have been edited---and nobody claims to know why or who?
Why were the Russians involved in this conspiracy when the US and Russian space programs were in fierce competition with the other to have the first man on the moon?
Why are there almost no records of a highly secret project known as the Cassandra Project?
And what did Richard Nixon leave on a hitherto unknown tape that blows this whole Cassandra Project wide open?
Intrigued? Oh, you should be!
I am more familiar with McDevitt’s work than Resnick’s. In McDevitt’s work I am always pulled along at a furious page-turning pace by his ability to dangle clues before the reader and leave you guessing. Which happens here in spades.
I couldn’t put this down, the characters are wonderful and the resolution is pretty darn nutty.
An excellent SF mystery handled by two super writers.
August 20, 2017
Not a bad book, but IMHO an unnecessary one, because McDevitt did such a good job telling the same story with only 5000 words in Light Speed Magazine back in 2010, (which was then reprinted a year later in Year's Best SF 16 - and rightfully so; it's a great little story, and you can read the whole thing in ten minutes at http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fic...).
OR...you can spend two or three days reading the same thing as a 380-page book with expanded characters, political overtones, and - the one nice addition - a revised ending which completely changes the point of the story. Aside from the new ending, however, most of what's added is fluff - there are a lot more characters, but they all sound the same, and they're all equally dense at guessing what's really going on, (although that might have something to do with my having already read the short story - I'll give McDevitt the benefit of the doubt on this).
Which raises an interesting question: the book's supposedly written by both McDevitt and Mike Resnick...might this have been a sort of "James Patterson plus (insert author here)"-type collaboration, where Resnick took McDevitt's original short story and then ran with it? I don't know either author, but I can't imagine why it took two people to add 370 pages to a fairly simple story, unless one of them (Resnick) did the whole thing with the other's (McDevitt's) blessing.
I can't think of many short stories that have been successfully expanded into full-length treatments, although I'm sure there are some. Only one that comes to mind is Dennis Lehane's The Drop, which was actually written after he wrote the screenplay for the movie based on his initial short story, "Animal Rescue." Anyway - once again, not a bad book, but my recommendation would be to just click on the above link for the original story, and then if you REALLY wanted to go further just get a cup of coffee at Barnes & Noble and read the last dozen pages of the novel :)
(BTW - was almost tempted to include this on my "alternate history" bookshelf, because while President Obama is mentioned as immediately preceding "President Cunningham," McDevitt still has Jon Stewart hosting the Daily Show - if only that were true!)
OR...you can spend two or three days reading the same thing as a 380-page book with expanded characters, political overtones, and - the one nice addition - a revised ending which completely changes the point of the story. Aside from the new ending, however, most of what's added is fluff - there are a lot more characters, but they all sound the same, and they're all equally dense at guessing what's really going on, (although that might have something to do with my having already read the short story - I'll give McDevitt the benefit of the doubt on this).
Which raises an interesting question: the book's supposedly written by both McDevitt and Mike Resnick...might this have been a sort of "James Patterson plus (insert author here)"-type collaboration, where Resnick took McDevitt's original short story and then ran with it? I don't know either author, but I can't imagine why it took two people to add 370 pages to a fairly simple story, unless one of them (Resnick) did the whole thing with the other's (McDevitt's) blessing.
I can't think of many short stories that have been successfully expanded into full-length treatments, although I'm sure there are some. Only one that comes to mind is Dennis Lehane's The Drop, which was actually written after he wrote the screenplay for the movie based on his initial short story, "Animal Rescue." Anyway - once again, not a bad book, but my recommendation would be to just click on the above link for the original story, and then if you REALLY wanted to go further just get a cup of coffee at Barnes & Noble and read the last dozen pages of the novel :)
(BTW - was almost tempted to include this on my "alternate history" bookshelf, because while President Obama is mentioned as immediately preceding "President Cunningham," McDevitt still has Jon Stewart hosting the Daily Show - if only that were true!)
November 14, 2013
This is an absolutely stunning novel from two science fiction masters. 4.5 stars.
What if, in the very near future, among an abundance of material released by NASA to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Neil Armstrong moon landing, there were found a couple of items that seem to indicate there had been moon landings prior to Armstrong’s that were covered up? What if the media got ahold of the story and wouldn’t let it go; and a PR man from NASA stumbled across additional clues that this might be true? Why would a government determined to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade cover up any such landings, and why would subsequent administrations continue to hide the facts? This is the mystery at the heart of this novel.
A fast, intelligent, and entertaining read, the authors know how to build and maintain suspense. I had to know what was going to happen, and what the truth would reveal. It all builds to a jaw dropping conclusion. This book is most definitely science fiction, but it also may be the only mystery/thriller I’ve ever read in which there are no villains.
An earlier reviewer wrote that this “thriller” was not thrilling at all. I could not disagree more. If bad guys holding hostages while time clicks toward a catastrophic event and good guys are trying to save the innocent makes your kind of thriller, this is not that book. If your type of thriller is a mercenary/assassin with unlimited funds and mobility killing scores of bad guys while completing a mission you can read in two lunch hours, this is not your book.
Rather, this is the thrill of solving a mystery held for 50 years, of revelations that will make you think. Of space travel, and hope for a return to the days when humans walked on the moon.
The authors touch on many elements of American history, and popular culture. The novel is fun, and occasionally funny, and I would recommend it to any reader. Included for the science fiction fan are sometimes overt, sometimes subtle references to other SF authors and works.
This is a well written book that will take you out of your world, and inspire your sense of wonder about what was and what might have been.
What if, in the very near future, among an abundance of material released by NASA to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Neil Armstrong moon landing, there were found a couple of items that seem to indicate there had been moon landings prior to Armstrong’s that were covered up? What if the media got ahold of the story and wouldn’t let it go; and a PR man from NASA stumbled across additional clues that this might be true? Why would a government determined to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade cover up any such landings, and why would subsequent administrations continue to hide the facts? This is the mystery at the heart of this novel.
A fast, intelligent, and entertaining read, the authors know how to build and maintain suspense. I had to know what was going to happen, and what the truth would reveal. It all builds to a jaw dropping conclusion. This book is most definitely science fiction, but it also may be the only mystery/thriller I’ve ever read in which there are no villains.
An earlier reviewer wrote that this “thriller” was not thrilling at all. I could not disagree more. If bad guys holding hostages while time clicks toward a catastrophic event and good guys are trying to save the innocent makes your kind of thriller, this is not that book. If your type of thriller is a mercenary/assassin with unlimited funds and mobility killing scores of bad guys while completing a mission you can read in two lunch hours, this is not your book.
Rather, this is the thrill of solving a mystery held for 50 years, of revelations that will make you think. Of space travel, and hope for a return to the days when humans walked on the moon.
The authors touch on many elements of American history, and popular culture. The novel is fun, and occasionally funny, and I would recommend it to any reader. Included for the science fiction fan are sometimes overt, sometimes subtle references to other SF authors and works.
This is a well written book that will take you out of your world, and inspire your sense of wonder about what was and what might have been.
February 14, 2013
This would have been a one star, but the journey was enticing. The ending, however, left me disappointed and ashamed for the authors, who destroyed everything they were working towards. Yes the characters were two dimensional, that was fine...the story was about the secret moon landings and the characters were only vehicles. But the two dimensional characters, especially ethical and truthful Jerry who left NASA over a coverup, and Bucky, who spent billions to get to the moon to find out what happened, suddenly change their mind because of a plaque. One that may or may not have to do with Jesus.
If the characters were even superficially adhering to their bio, they would have presented the real plaque. Unfortunately this spoke more to the authors, who, other than their odd fascination with Jon Stewart, tried to convey that Science is more important than politics until the very end. Then they had to play politics because religious people have to be placated by the smart people or they will lose their faith or something and riot. It just seemed very condescending.
I would have preferred if the aliens had left their technology for us to discover, or if it turned out the aliens had colonized Earth (we were the aliens), and left their technology and coordinates for their journey on the moon for descendants to find, which would spur a refunding of NASA to travel to our "real" home world. Just don't take the easy route by saying 90% of the worlds population is too stupid to know the truth about a first contact.
If the characters were even superficially adhering to their bio, they would have presented the real plaque. Unfortunately this spoke more to the authors, who, other than their odd fascination with Jon Stewart, tried to convey that Science is more important than politics until the very end. Then they had to play politics because religious people have to be placated by the smart people or they will lose their faith or something and riot. It just seemed very condescending.
I would have preferred if the aliens had left their technology for us to discover, or if it turned out the aliens had colonized Earth (we were the aliens), and left their technology and coordinates for their journey on the moon for descendants to find, which would spur a refunding of NASA to travel to our "real" home world. Just don't take the easy route by saying 90% of the worlds population is too stupid to know the truth about a first contact.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
May 22, 2013It's the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, and mystifying evidence emerges that indicates another crew of NASA astronauts actually landed on the moon six months before Apollo 11. Why would NASA and the astronauts on the mission have kept it a secret?
It's a great hook. What possible reason could there have been for such a cover up? What did the real first moon walkers find? Unfortunately the book can't live up to the concept. The main characters, a NASA spokesperson and a billionaire who wants to go to the moon, are dull middle-aged white guys who don't do much (there's lots of talking, not much suspense) but spend a lot of pages on it. I'm guessing the billionaire was modeled on Heinlein's D. D. Harriman. Folks, it's been done, better, and it's not 1940 anymore. The authors were trying for "brilliant curmudgeon" but I was just getting Andy Rooney.
Several times I almost gave up and returned this to the library, but I was curious about how the authors would wrap up the explanation, so I kept turning the pages. Groan - it was embarrassingly trite, just a step up from "and then he woke up in his own bed."
In short, this novel reads like a highly padded version of a short story first written in about 1950. The characters are retro, the ending was probably intriguing pre-Twilight Zone, and there's the unbearable eccentric billionaire. Not recommended.
It's a great hook. What possible reason could there have been for such a cover up? What did the real first moon walkers find? Unfortunately the book can't live up to the concept. The main characters, a NASA spokesperson and a billionaire who wants to go to the moon, are dull middle-aged white guys who don't do much (there's lots of talking, not much suspense) but spend a lot of pages on it. I'm guessing the billionaire was modeled on Heinlein's D. D. Harriman. Folks, it's been done, better, and it's not 1940 anymore. The authors were trying for "brilliant curmudgeon" but I was just getting Andy Rooney.
Several times I almost gave up and returned this to the library, but I was curious about how the authors would wrap up the explanation, so I kept turning the pages. Groan - it was embarrassingly trite, just a step up from "and then he woke up in his own bed."
In short, this novel reads like a highly padded version of a short story first written in about 1950. The characters are retro, the ending was probably intriguing pre-Twilight Zone, and there's the unbearable eccentric billionaire. Not recommended.
July 10, 2013
Was Neil Armstrong really the first man to walk on the moon? Why would the United States hide actual moon landings that happened before Apollo 11 on the back side of the moon? How was it possible to cover up something so amazing and why would anyone want to? All these questions are answered in Jack McDevitt's and Mike Resnick's "The Cassandra Project."
It took awhile for this book to get going. At first I kept reading it because I really liked the character, Jerry. He was written very well and I was able to connect with him pretty quickly. You get just enough information about what is "turning up" to keep you reading, mostly to see how Jerry is going to handle it. Once Jerry leaves NASA, the pace of the story really picks up. The story is based on an interesting concept.
If you like those near-future, "what-if" type of science fiction, then this is the book for you. It might also appeal to you if you are one that likes those quest-thrillers, like "Angels and Demons." "The Cassandra Project" does not have the action sequences that show in typical quest-thrillers and probably would make a pretty boring movie, but it's a great book.
It took awhile for this book to get going. At first I kept reading it because I really liked the character, Jerry. He was written very well and I was able to connect with him pretty quickly. You get just enough information about what is "turning up" to keep you reading, mostly to see how Jerry is going to handle it. Once Jerry leaves NASA, the pace of the story really picks up. The story is based on an interesting concept.
If you like those near-future, "what-if" type of science fiction, then this is the book for you. It might also appeal to you if you are one that likes those quest-thrillers, like "Angels and Demons." "The Cassandra Project" does not have the action sequences that show in typical quest-thrillers and probably would make a pretty boring movie, but it's a great book.
December 9, 2013
This is one of those books. You will either like it, as I did, or not. I don't think there is a middle ground. Unfortunately, those who ultimately dislike it have three places to make that decision ... Before reading it (not my thing) during the middle (it's kinda slow) or after the reveal (nope, I ain't buying it). For those of us that do like it, we gotta wade through all these. I was initially interested because it is a near contemporary story that revolves around a NASA mystery. I love the space program and NASA and mysteries, so I was in from the get go. I did pause in seeing its goodreads score though. 3.33.? Is this not well written? Why the low score? I think it stems from folks not appreciating the build up in the mystery and bailing...or not liking the reveal. Ultimately, I liked both but thought the end was a bit rushed, which cost the novel it's 5th star. It is well writte, has interesting characters and emulates our near future in a believable way. I enjoyed the mystery very much and the book.
December 16, 2013
This was a really decent thriller with some cool clues, etc. As Science Fiction, there was nothing really out there, especially since it was written in the near future.
The story is about a discovery of the possibility that the United States landing Neil Armstrong on the moon was AFTER the fact-- for some reason concealing two previous lunar landings in 1969. Why would NASA and the government conceal such a thing?
The authors manage to move the plot about a pace that keeps the reader from falling alseep. They manage to entice the reader into the next chapter and drop more possibilities and more clues. As a thriller, this one works quite well-- for the most part. The Science fiction element isn't really there since it is essentially written in the near future.
However, the conclusion, what the government is hiding was patently absured and {SPOILER ALERT}
tends to fit in well with Mormon theology... \\
But for me, the concealment of the "secret" made no sense whatsoever. A good book but the conclusion is a bit anticlimactic.
The story is about a discovery of the possibility that the United States landing Neil Armstrong on the moon was AFTER the fact-- for some reason concealing two previous lunar landings in 1969. Why would NASA and the government conceal such a thing?
The authors manage to move the plot about a pace that keeps the reader from falling alseep. They manage to entice the reader into the next chapter and drop more possibilities and more clues. As a thriller, this one works quite well-- for the most part. The Science fiction element isn't really there since it is essentially written in the near future.
However, the conclusion, what the government is hiding was patently absured and {SPOILER ALERT}
tends to fit in well with Mormon theology... \\
But for me, the concealment of the "secret" made no sense whatsoever. A good book but the conclusion is a bit anticlimactic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2012
Giving this one three stars (closer to 2 1/2), which is weird for me because I really enjoyed everything else I've read by Jack McDevitt. But this one was just disappointing to me. I went into this one without having read (or even knowing about) the short story it was based on. The majority of the book was great, I loved it, but at around the last 30 pages or so it just fell flat. I was completely hooked on the mystery of earlier moon missions being covered up, I couldn't put it down. And then it hits the part about the cover up of aliens and how one of them might have been actually been Jesus. And instead they replace it with another cover up so no one ever knows about what really happened because organized religion might not survive it or something. All in all, a rather disappointing ending to a story that without it, would have ended up being one of my favorite near future sci-fi books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2013
I'm not sure what I was expecting when I picked this up at the library, but I ended up being surprised. It was a pleasant surprise, so that's a good thing.
This is less science fiction than detective story wrapped in science fiction clothing (a la "The Caves of Steel" by Asimov), and it works pretty well as a page-turner: Sarah tonight asked me "what the heck is in that book that you keep picking it up? [instead of finishing cleaning for Passover]"
I think the world-building is pretty good: Bucky Blackstone's milleu is reminiscent of Flynn's Firestar universe, but in a good way - in the way that Flynn was reminiscent of Heinlein's Harriman selling the moon, so there is a venerable tradition here.
My only complaint is that the book takes a long time to convey that it's inherently a detective story, so the reader (ie me) can easily miss clues at the beginning, and can be wondering when the acton will get going.
Recommended.
This is less science fiction than detective story wrapped in science fiction clothing (a la "The Caves of Steel" by Asimov), and it works pretty well as a page-turner: Sarah tonight asked me "what the heck is in that book that you keep picking it up? [instead of finishing cleaning for Passover]"
I think the world-building is pretty good: Bucky Blackstone's milleu is reminiscent of Flynn's Firestar universe, but in a good way - in the way that Flynn was reminiscent of Heinlein's Harriman selling the moon, so there is a venerable tradition here.
My only complaint is that the book takes a long time to convey that it's inherently a detective story, so the reader (ie me) can easily miss clues at the beginning, and can be wondering when the acton will get going.
Recommended.
November 24, 2012
I enjoy McDevitt's space operas, and while they usually interweave some of his personal political views, Cassandra Project, which takes place in 2019, seems to have been written mainly to express those views. Part of his view, of course, is criticism of the waning of our manned NASA space program. The novel does succeed in making a strong plea for the return of NASA's glory days when we first landed on the Moon in 1969. The premise that there was a conspiracy that preceded Armstrong's walk keeps the story moving, with aging witnesses who have small pieces of the puzzle carefully doled out from chapter to chapter. The mystery did keep me moving through the book, but overall I found it disappointing.
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