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Powersat by Ben Bova

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Powersat

Author
Ben Bova
Publisher
Blackstone Publishing
Publish Date
21 October 2011
Run Time
13 hours 34 minutes
Format
Audiobook
$13.95

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What to expect

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 space.

America 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 worked perfectly right up until the moment that saboteurs knocked it out of the sky. 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.

Critics Review

  • “Bova gets better and better, combining plausible science with increasingly complex fiction.”

    Los Angeles Daily News

  • “A classic guy’s tale…Bova is a spare writer who nevertheless crafts the perfect voice for each of his characters.”

    San Antonio Express News

  • “Bova’s mastery of mixing hard scientific theories with compelling romantic and political intrigue is evident once again…Not surprisingly, the prolific Bova provides a page-turner of the highest order, as entertaining as it is inspiring. Readers will have a hard time putting this book down.”

    Barnes and Noble, editorial review

  • “A suspenseful ride and plenty of high-tech hardware.”

    Publishers Weekly

See more reviews
  • “Bova’s dedication to space exploration as well as his grasp of today’s discoveries make his SF tales some of the most down-to-earth explorations of the real possibilities of future technology. A strong addition to most SF collections, with additional appeal to YA audiences.”

    Library Journal

  • “Tom Clancy-like danger and intrigue.”

    Amazing

User Reviews

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Details

Author
Ben Bova
Narrator
Stefan Rudnicki
Duration
13 hours 34 minutes
Release Date
21 October 2011
ISBN
9781483058078
Format
Audiobook
Publisher
Blackstone Publishing
Genre
Science fiction

Synopsis

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 space.America 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 worked perfectly right up until the moment that saboteurs knocked it out of the sky. 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.

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