Orbit

As you can tell from the ‘What I’m Reading’ block in the right column of my blog, I don’t read a lot of fiction. Most often my reading tastes tend towards history, biography, politics and current events. And so when recently home in California on vacation, despite having packed a few books, I was glad to accept a recommendation offered by each of my parents to read Orbit by John J. Nance.

The premise is that sometime in the near future, private space travel has continued to advance in the direction already started by SpaceShipOne in 2004. Kip Dawson, a pharmeceutical company executive in a troubled marriage and some issues with his son, thinks he’s scored a dream getaway when he wins a contest for a ride into orbit offered as a promotion gimmick by American Space Adventures. And so it begins. But shortly after arriving in space, a micrometeor pierces the ship, kills the pilot, and knocks out all communications. And Kip finds himself a castaway in Orbit, knowing that he will run out of air in five days.

No spoilers there, you can get that much from the book jacket. The book goes back and forth between Kip’s thoughts and actions as he deals with his looming demise and the scant hope of any happy ending for him. While back on Earth, the world follows his story with the fascination that is always paid to such human tragedies as babies who fall in wells, or miners trapped underground. It was a good read, a fast read, and an entertaining read. A good summer book, thanks for suggesting it Mom & Pop!