Power Challenges

By: Ben Bova

Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki

Length: 6 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

It is time to start colonizing the solar system. Ex-astronaut, current space advisor, and all-out troubleshooter for the president, Jake, is determined to make it happen.

And what better way than to return to America’s glory by returning to the moon and setting up a permanent moon-base which can then serve as the launching pad for Mars and beyond.

But as usual, political intrigue and conflicting priorities are threatening the whole program. Add to that a president who is about to die, a strong contingent in the legislative body which thinks that money spent on a moon-base is money wasted, and the general apathy of the public, and you have an almost impossible task.

Even NASA, natural enthusiasts of a project like this, are dragging their feet because they have lost control of the top-spot in the project.

But none of those opposing forces have contended with the resolve and the skill of Jake Ross. He will create the base on the moon. He will send humans out to many worlds.

©2021 Ben Bova (P)2021 Blackstone Publishing

Wasn't sure what to expect but...

I really enjoyed this book. Though I often curse myself, I appreciate a story told without all the profanity and obscenity of the current day. Interesting premise and I can see that there is more ahead.
Has an old sci fi feel to it that I like a great deal, while still being set in modern times.

Sci-Fi or political thriller?

This book is 1 part science fiction and 9 parts political intrigue. If that’s what you’re in to, you may like it.
Strangely, the climax of the book has very little to do with the bulk of the story. It’s almost as if the author started writing with one end in mind, then changed mid-way through, and in the end went with a third idea. There’s nothing wrong with the book per se, it’s just rather meandering.

Another Ben Bova gem

I love the series. Bova is a great story teller and does a great job describing a realistic future for space exploration. There are some soft spots in the story, the idea of the US making military technology open to other nations is pretty weak. But overall a great story. The last part is basically impossible to pause.

Excellent!

I enjoyed the story and performance. Bova excels in story telling and the reader in performance. I’m ready for the follow on.

Meh

It was well written, and had a few interesting characters, but it was pretty boring.

Not one of his best.

I usually enjoy Bova’s work, though I’m not a great fan of Sci-Fi, but I found the plot derivative, drawing from many other Political potboilers with a few references ripped from the front pages. It was well written and fairly entertaining, but nothing to write home about.

Three Stars. ***

Same as his Peacekeepers book

no difference. same as the Peacekeeprs what was released in 1-16-2015

Peacekeepers
By: Ben Bova
Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
Length: 9 hrs and 17 mins
Release date: 01-16-15

Happy Ending

A very typical novel from this author who has clearly developed a style that works for him. The last three chapters are riveting and quite exciting but you have to sit through 40 others that aren’t. It’s a great book but not great literature.

Power series

This series was well done.
Mr. Bova, if you can read this from the great beyond,
Huzah!

NOT SCIENCE FICTION!

This story could have only been made more boring if the author included a screen where the characters watched gold or a freshly painted wall dry. Endless description of minute details that did not contributed to moving the story forward waisted my time.
I started thre books from Mr. Bova, written recently, and only finished this one. I will look to his earlier work to give him one last chance.
Military coups, senate appropriation sessions and young woman looking for her next married man to sleep with belong somewhere else.
I was hopeful when part of the story concerned a permanent moon base and an exo-planet discovered around a near galaxy. Sadly, the story snapped back to it's near glacier like crawl after a few paragraphs.
This could not have been more disappointing.
Save a few hours and choose a soap opera for entertainment. At least the commercials might give you some excitement.