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Blue Collar Space
by
The future doesn’t just happen… Somebody has to build it.
Martin L. Shoemaker, author of “Today I Am Paul”, presents stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary work. Planning, exploring, constructing… living and growing and dying… across the Solar System.
Includes these award-winning stories:
Scramble (second place, Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award, 2012)
Unrefine ...more
Martin L. Shoemaker, author of “Today I Am Paul”, presents stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary work. Planning, exploring, constructing… living and growing and dying… across the Solar System.
Includes these award-winning stories:
Scramble (second place, Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award, 2012)
Unrefine ...more
Get A Copy
Kindle Edition, 246 pages
Published
June 6th 2018
(first published May 21st 2018)
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A nice set of stories all focused on people working through environmental or physical challenges in lunar, martian or space settings. The stories are filled with characters that many longtime sci-fi readers imagine themselves to be. That is folks who work hard and generally have an analytical approach to challenges.
For those looking of fiction that addresses stories of minorities or LGBTQ issues, this is not for you. The stories are all set in a place where either those issues have been resolved ...more
For those looking of fiction that addresses stories of minorities or LGBTQ issues, this is not for you. The stories are all set in a place where either those issues have been resolved ...more

As with most short story collections, there are a couple that don't appeal to the reader, but I enjoyed the majority of these stories.
I really like the theme of "blue collar" which told me from the outset the stories would be more about the working crew, rather than featuring a dashing captain who gets all the women.
Overall, I recommend it as a good book you can pick up, read a story, then go do something else before reading the next story. I read two full novels with this book acting as my spa ...more
I really like the theme of "blue collar" which told me from the outset the stories would be more about the working crew, rather than featuring a dashing captain who gets all the women.
Overall, I recommend it as a good book you can pick up, read a story, then go do something else before reading the next story. I read two full novels with this book acting as my spa ...more

Interesting collection of short stories
Wasn't sure what to expect as I started the book. I read the synopsis of the book, and have read a different book by Shoemaker, so I knew the type of story telling I was about to dive into, yet despite this, I was still pleasantly surprised. It interesting to go through a series of stories that covers the mundane day to day happenings of living and working in space. Given, this book will never be adapted to a blockbuster sci-fi flick, but can definitely she ...more
Wasn't sure what to expect as I started the book. I read the synopsis of the book, and have read a different book by Shoemaker, so I knew the type of story telling I was about to dive into, yet despite this, I was still pleasantly surprised. It interesting to go through a series of stories that covers the mundane day to day happenings of living and working in space. Given, this book will never be adapted to a blockbuster sci-fi flick, but can definitely she ...more

Enjoyable escapist near-future science fiction.
As the title suggests, Shoemaker delivers a work-a-day reality. However, blue collar he may see it, the stories are laden with science. Plot points depend on metallic, orbital, and closed system properties.
Although he sketches the future in solar system activities, I wish he painted the scenes with a bit more impasto.
Nonetheless, I'll read another of his works. ...more
As the title suggests, Shoemaker delivers a work-a-day reality. However, blue collar he may see it, the stories are laden with science. Plot points depend on metallic, orbital, and closed system properties.
Although he sketches the future in solar system activities, I wish he painted the scenes with a bit more impasto.
Nonetheless, I'll read another of his works. ...more

Finally! A sci-fi book that tells the stories of the folks who really do all the work!
If that weren't enough, the stories themselves are all solid and with many that are exceptional. They're organized into chapters dealing with different spaces/places/situations. I really enjoyed this one tremendously. ...more
If that weren't enough, the stories themselves are all solid and with many that are exceptional. They're organized into chapters dealing with different spaces/places/situations. I really enjoyed this one tremendously. ...more

Love the hardcore blue collar science/engineering
It's been long time since I've read anything as good as Kim Stanley Robinson ( 'tho not as broad-viewed as the latter). Engineers and orbit analysts should love it, too. ...more
It's been long time since I've read anything as good as Kim Stanley Robinson ( 'tho not as broad-viewed as the latter). Engineers and orbit analysts should love it, too. ...more
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