Powersat

The Grand Tour Series

By: Ben Bova

Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki

Two hundred thousand feet up, things go horribly wrong. An experimental low-orbit spaceplane breaks up on reentry, falling to earth over a trail hundreds of miles long. And in its wake is the beginning of the most important mission in the history of spaceflight.

Americans needs energy, and Dan Randolph is determined to give it to them. He dreams of an array of geosynchronous powersats, satellites that gather solar energy and beam it to generators on Earth, freeing America from its addiction to fossil fuels and breaking the power of the oil cartels forever. But the wreck of the spaceplane has left his company, Astro Manufacturing, on the edge of bankruptcy.

Worse, Dan discovers that the plane was sabotaged. And whoever brought it down is willing—and able—to kill again to keep Astro grounded.

Now Dan has to thread a dangerous maze. The visible threats are bad enough: Rival firms want to buy him out and take control of his dreams. His former lover wants to co-opt his unlimited-energy idea as a campaign plank for the candidate she’s grooming for the presidency. NASA and the FAA want to shut down his maverick firm. And his creditors are breathing down his neck.

Making matters even more dangerous, an international organization of terrorists sees the powersat as a threat to their own oil-based power. And they’ve figured out how to use it as a weapon in their war against the West.

A sweeping mix of space, murder, romance, politics, secrets, and betrayal, Powersat will take you to the edge of space and the dawning of a new world.

Listen to more in Ben Bova's Grand Tour series.©2005 Ben Bova (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Bova gets better and better, combining plausible science with increasingly complex fiction.” ( Los Angeles Daily News)

Great Narration, Good Story, Terrible Editing!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It kept me interested, which is enough.

Any additional comments?

This is a good thriller with interesting characters and a decently-paced plot. Not much action until the climax, but the build-up is worth it. Stefan Rudnicki is an excellent narrator who does a good job with accents and expression. I would have given it a higher overall rating, but the poor editing is unacceptable for a commercial offering. Still, if you can look past the mistakes, it's worth a listen.

I want the Powersat to work!

This is an older book so some of the technology is behind the times now. But everything else is relevant--the political, corporate, and international backstabbing are all still very timely. The human interest level here is supplied by the separation of the main character and his would-be wife. She went off to Washington and he went off to space; they can't get over each other, can't leave their other love. And then they did stupid things like disparage the other's life choice: "You still playing in space?" and "You care about that political crap?"

You would thing that cheap, renewable, clean energy would be everyone's dream, but it isn't. The oil, coal and automobile industries would suffer, and the countries that depend on exports of these would be bankrupted, so there is lots of opposition to this concept that would really benefit the world.

The characters are real enough that we lament their deaths, or cheer their downfall. The narration is great. The story is long and satisfying. All in all a good read with technology, corporate espionage, political playoffs, thug intimidation, and greed, greed that cares not a whit what corpses lie in its wake.

Good book.

thought it was a space saga.. (didn't reas the description). though I listened and did like the book as it was well written and read.

I had respect for the characters

Don't bother with the second book. there's no respectable person represented anywhere in the first three chapters. if any of those characters continue the book is going to be a bomb. One reviewer says she doesn't believe in planets or space. that one gave it five stars. that should sum up for you the audience for the second book.

More of a soap opera than science fiction.

I could have done with less wah and more overcoming of scientific and engineering hurdles. Overall an OK book though.

"double damn" and "apple sauce"

good story, but these two phrases will probably drive you insane.

When you know, you know.

Ok story but annoying stereotypes

The story is interesting but the tone feels like 1985. Lots of stereotypes - women, ethnicities, nationalities. Some might be offended.

Interesting idea, horribly cliched execution

What made the experience of listening to Powersat the most enjoyable?

Excellent performance and a great idea.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

As it was meant to set the stage for the rest of the series it ended pretty much as expected. This is probably the biggest fault of the book, it's not very original in it's execution.

Which scene was your favorite?

n/a

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Terrrrrrror in Space

Any additional comments?

As much as I admire the idea the book hasn't really aged all that well. One example is that one of the characters feels the need to explain the term "wind farm" to another (side) character.

Overall, as said above, the idea of the Powersat etc. is interesting, the science appears to me solid too. Where it falls down is just how cliched the characters and their actions are. There was no surprise in it for me.

So I give it an A for the idea, but only a D for the execution.

An Interesting Beginning to the Grand Tour

This was a nice slow-burn story that sets the stage for all of the turmoil that readers of Bova's other Grand Tour books will know is coming.

THE BAD:
A few of the characters are very one-note, to the point of breaking your immersion and wondering "Who would EVER do that?"
The overall message of "TOO MUCH GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT IS BAD FOR BUISINESS!" and "BIG BUSINESS IS CORRUPT AND DANGEROUS!" and "GOVERNMENT AND BUISNESS MUST WORK TOGETHER!" is wielded with all the subtly of a marching band going through your bedroom at 3 AM.

THE GOOD:
Bova, as usual, manages to smoothly weave an intricate tale with many multi-faceted factions, without ever needlessly bogging-down the pacing. While not the most action packed book, the story builds up slowly, but surely, to a satisfying conclusion, despite the weakness of some of the characters.

THE CONCLUSION:
If you've been wanting get into the Grand Tour books, you should definitely start here at the beginning. While there are certainly better books in the series, Powersat introduces so many characters and concepts that echo through all of the later stories to come, you would be do a disservice to yourself if you skipped it.

Great story great narration, great science

A concept much talk about, beaming energy from space via microwaves, woven into a mystery story and a tragic story of lose loves. All spiced up with the typical terrorist and greedy industrial oil giants. in fact lost of greed and wild ambition. The result a fast moving realistic tale and a great listen.