Michael Cassutt

A portrait by one of America's first seven astronauts describes how he was first prevented from going into space due to a heart irregularity, his subsequent participation in NASA as a civilian, his own experiences in space, and his significant contributions to the space program. Reprint.

An unabridged collection spotlighting the best space adventures, alternate histories, and time travel stories published in 2022 by current and emerging masters of the science fiction genre, edited by Allan Kaster." The Lonely Time Traveler of Kentish Town" by Nadia Afifi-A Palestinian hires a time traveler to record his grandfather's meeting with one of Britain's most famous historical figures." The Sufficient Loss Protocol" by Kemi Ashing-Giwa-Hostile alien tech is discovered aboard a corporate spaceship." Kingsbury 1944" by Michael Cassutt-A chemist recalls working with an eccentric team of scientists at a munitions plant in Indiana during World War II." Of All the New Yorks in All the Worlds" by Indrapramit Das-Long-distance relationships are hard; those across timelines even more so." Boy in the Key of Forskaen" by Eric Del Carlo-An abandoned boy on an alien planet bonds with a discarded semi-organic spaceship." Bishop's Opening" by R. S. A. Garcia-The crew of a cargo spacecraft get caught up in the deadly court intrigue of a space-faring kingdom." An Expression of Silence" by Beth Goder-An explorer who struggles to interact with her crewmates tries to communicate with an alien." A Letter to Merlin" by Theodora Goss-Time travelers go to King Arthur's court to repair humanity's final timeline." Proof of Concept" by Auston Habershaw-An amorphous alien has amnesia on a spaceship full of hostile aliens." The Mercy of the Sandsea" by T. L. Huchu-An old sand marine faces down an assassin on a planet with sandseas." The Chronologist" by Ian R. MacLeod-A boy plots against the winds of time only to see his life unravel." The Beast of Tara" by Michael Swanwick-Scientists detect residual sounds from the past at Ireland's Lia F il (aka the Speaking Stone).

One of the most elusive and controversial figures in NASA’s history, George W. S. Abbey was said to be secretive, despotic, a Space Age Machiavelli. Yet Abbey had more influence on human spaceflight than almost anyone in history. His story has never been told—until now. The Astronaut Maker takes readers inside NASA to learn the real story of how Abbey rose to power, from young pilot and wannabe astronaut to engineer, bureaucrat, and finally director of the Johnson Space Center. During a thirty-seven-year career, mostly out of the spotlight, he oversaw the selection of every astronaut class from 1978 to 1987, deciding who got to fly and when. He was with the Apollo 1 astronauts the night before the fatal fire in January 1967. He was in mission control the night of the Apollo 13 accident and organized the recovery effort. Abbey also led NASA’s recruitment of women and minorities as space shuttle astronauts and was responsible for hiring Sally Ride. The Astronaut Maker is the ultimate insider’s account of ambition and power politics at NASA.

THEIR FIRST CHALLENGE IS TO SURVIVE... When an unidentified object is spotted hurtling towards Earth, two rival teams race to claim it. But the affectionately-named ‘Keanu’ conceals dangerous secrets. Instead of barren rock, astronauts discover a giant ship with an extra-terrestrial crew. A ship with a mission and a message: help us. A brave new frontier beckons, but it comes at a price. Without explanation, small groups of humans are transported from earth’s scientific communities to Keanu’s interior. Their first task is to stay alive. Their second, to explore their new home and locate their keepers. But above all, as the ship starts to break down around them, they must figure out why they were brought here and forge a path home.