Fiction Faves
My favorite books as an Astrophysicist(in training) Even when reading fiction, I love reading about space in all genres! These books I feel do the science justice so it doesn’t pull me out of the world building 💙🌌
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Satellite | Nick Lake | 🛰️
“Born and raised with twins Orion and Libra on the Moon 2 Space Station, Leo has grown up in the most extraordinary way. The time has now come for the trio to make their first flight home to Earth, but they cannot imagine the terrible consequences that their return will set into motion.”
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Love Theoretically | Ali Hazelwood | 🧬
““Love, Theoretically” follows theoretical physicist, Elsie Hannaway, as she navigates her hectic life that’s filled with being an adjunct professor teaching thermodynamics (the study of relations between heat, work, temperature, and energy if you’re a communications girl and not a science girl like me) and offering her services as a fake girlfriend to her favorite client, Greg, who happens to be the brother of well-known and cold-hearted experimental physicist, Jack Smith-Turner, that Elsie just so happens to hate. While Elsie is ready to go to war with Jack for what he had done to theoretical physics in the past, she ends up finding him to be the only person she can be her true self around.”
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ARTEMIS | Andy Weir | 🌑
“Jazz Bashara is a criminal.
Well, sort of. Life on Artemis, the first and only city on the moon, is tough if you're not a rich tourist or an eccentric billionaire. So smuggling in the occasional harmless bit of contraband barely counts, right? Not when you've got debts to pay and your job as a porter barely covers the rent.
Everything changes when Jazz sees the chance to commit the perfect crime, with a reward too lucrative to turn down. But pulling off the impossible is just the start of her problems, as she learns that she's stepped square into a conspiracy for control of Artemis itself—and that now, her only chance at survival lies in a gambit even riskier than the first.”
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#bookrecommendations #books #astrophysics #astronomy #NASA #alihazelwood #science fiction
I'm so glad you're curious about 'Satellite' by Nick Lake! As an astrophysicist-in-training, this book truly captured my imagination and intellect in a way few others do. What instantly drew me in was the premise: children born and raised on a Moon space station, facing the daunting unknown of Earth for the first time. Nick Lake masterfully crafts a world where the science of space habitation feels incredibly real. The challenges of adapting to Earth's gravity after a lifetime in microgravity, the psychological impact of such an upbringing – it's all handled with a careful eye for detail that prevents those jarring scientific inaccuracies often found in fiction. For me, 'Satellite' isn't just a thrilling story; it's a thought experiment brought to life. It makes you ponder the very essence of what it means to be human, shaped by an environment so vastly different from our home planet. I found myself thinking about the physics of their journey, the subtle biological adaptations, and the sheer audacity of living permanently off-world. It’s this kind of dedication to scientific plausibility that truly allows me, and hopefully other science enthusiasts, to fully immerse ourselves in the narrative without constantly questioning the 'how' or 'why.' When I recommend books like 'Satellite' or 'ARTEMIS' by Andy Weir, it's because they share this commitment to grounding fantastical scenarios in believable scientific principles. Andy Weir, whose work often gets compared to the meticulous approach of *The Martian*, similarly excels at making space exploration feel tangible. While 'Love, Theoretically' by Ali Hazelwood, with its theoretical physicist protagonist, delves into the human side of science, 'Satellite' pushes the boundaries of our understanding of human adaptation to space. It's not just about cool gadgets or epic battles; it’s about the quiet, profound implications of living among the stars, and how that changes us. These narratives are crucial for inspiring the next generation of scientists and astronomers. They bridge the gap between complex Physics and captivating storytelling. I remember reading about pioneers like STEPHEN HAWKING and his ideas about the universe, or the fascinating concepts of QUANTUM THEORY explored by minds like *NEIL DEGRASSE Tyson*. These books, in their own fictional ways, echo that same spirit of inquiry and wonder. 'Satellite' in particular offers a unique look at identity formation when one's 'home' is a vessel in deep space, rather than a planetary surface. It explores themes of belonging, the unknown, and the human drive to explore, all wrapped up in a scientifically coherent package. If you're looking for a space opera that respects the science, or a unique coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of our solar system, 'Satellite' is a must-read. It truly earns its place among my favorite *ASTRONOMY*-inspired fiction.