Powersat

The Grand Tour Series

By: Ben Bova

Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki

Length: 13 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

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.

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.

"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.

Good book, basis is outdated

In the short time since this book was published much that it is based upon has changed. By the description you know it is about cheap renewable power vs fossil fuel, old vs new. That has credibility but the details are no longer valid, the politics, geo and local, don't match what has happened since (peak oil vs USA fracking). Anyway, there are enough other elements that held me to the end.

captivating, conspiracy, Great story.

conspiracies, corporate espionage, and unpredictable plot twists that illustrate heroes can be male or female and when the good guys win it's always with great personal cost.

a double damned good start to an incredible series

some might say it starts slow but this story lays the ground work for the grand tour and by god is it grand

Too close to reality

I had to stop reading because it wasn't fantasy enough. I feared I might recall the book as fact in future discussions. maybe if I read this when it first came out. I like Danial Suarez for stories like this, but he takes the tech a few more jumps into sci-fi which gets more into black mirror and past my hang up with too close to real.