A review by pezski
The Art of Space Travel, by Nina Allan
4.0
Emily is chief housekeeper at a hotel at Heathrow Airport at which two astronauts about to embark on a trip to Mars will be staying and giving their press conference. She was affected by the disaster of the previous, failed attempt - her mother was a materials scientist who both worked on the mission and investigated the failure - along with pollution of a further failed launch.
Whilst dealing with the ramping up of the hotel in readiness of the upcoming visit, Emily is also looking after her mother, who is now housebound and suffering from a disease that may have been caused by exposure to the rocket catastrophe; she suffers from lung problems as well as dementia, which exacerbates what we learn is her rather impish, even capricious, sense of humour. During a moment of apparent lucidity Moolie, as Emily calls her mother, drops a hint about the identity of Emily's father, which she has never revealed.
All these threads, along with talk of the almost certain death of the astronauts - even if they do reach Mars, it is likely a one-way trip - gives the tale a melancholy tone, however it is beautifully written and rich. Nina Allen fits a massive amount into the 40 pages, so much character and history and background. Another writer new to me who I shall be watching.
Whilst dealing with the ramping up of the hotel in readiness of the upcoming visit, Emily is also looking after her mother, who is now housebound and suffering from a disease that may have been caused by exposure to the rocket catastrophe; she suffers from lung problems as well as dementia, which exacerbates what we learn is her rather impish, even capricious, sense of humour. During a moment of apparent lucidity Moolie, as Emily calls her mother, drops a hint about the identity of Emily's father, which she has never revealed.
All these threads, along with talk of the almost certain death of the astronauts - even if they do reach Mars, it is likely a one-way trip - gives the tale a melancholy tone, however it is beautifully written and rich. Nina Allen fits a massive amount into the 40 pages, so much character and history and background. Another writer new to me who I shall be watching.