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Aurora

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Aurora

By: Kim Stanley Robinson
Narrated by: Ali Ahn
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About this listen

Our voyage from Earth began generations ago. Now we approach our destination. A new home. Aurora.

Brilliantly imagined and beautifully told, Aurora is the work of a writer at the height of his powers.

©2015 Kim Stanley Robinson (P)2015 Hachette Audio Science Fiction Space Opera Fiction

Critic reviews

A rousing tribute to the human spirit. (SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE)
[Robinson is] a rare contemporary writer to earn a reputation on par with earlier masters such as Isaac Asimov or Arthur C. Clarke. (CHICAGO TRIBUNE)
Humanity's first trip to another star is incredibly ambitious, impeccably planned and executed on a grand scale in Aurora. (SPACE.COM)
This is hard SF the way it's mean to be written: technical, scientific, with big ideas and a fully realized society. Robinson is an acknowledged sf master-his Mars trilogy and his stand-alone novel 2312 (2012) were multiple award winners and nominees-and this latest novel is sure to be a big hit with devoted fans of old-school science fiction. (BOOKLIST)
All stars
Most relevant
Interesting setting, but the story gets less interesting as the book continues. Annoying and whiny protagonist. The last chapter pointless.

Could be better

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The themes of this book are very original if somewhat pessimistic - or, as one character puts it, darkly realistic - and are a refreshing change from the assumptions of many interstellar science-fiction. As much a sociological investigation of the question of interstellar travel as scientific and biological, perhaps more so. The themes in the book have changed the way I think about space travel, putting the arguably selfishly optimistic dreams of billionaires like Bezos, Branson and Musk into perspective. The first book I've ever encountered that seriously made me question if we should attempt interstellar travel or the colonisation of other planets, given the often ignored yet inevitable human cost.

The characters were interesting and relatable, and there is certainly a great deal of humanity to the story, both the good and the bad, which is often central to the themes of the book. The treatment of the ship's AI is also an interesting and unusual take for a somewhat dystopian sci-fi story, especially as it is the AI which (who?) performs much of the overt philosophising and exposition.

Unfortunately the book does drag on a bit and might have benefited from better editing; some dialogue and even whole sections could have been shorter or removed entirely (though I get the impression the way the narrative seems to drag on is somewhat deliberate to convey the constancy of issues and moral quandaries the protagonists face).

The narration was competent but average, with most male voices sounding identical and the voice of the ship's AI, which constitutes much of the narration, becoming somewhat monotonous after a point. The soundscape was interesting and added to the narration and atmosphere, and more of this would have been welcome.

I haven't read the author's other books so can't compare but overall this was a very interesting and thought provoking story that I would definitely recommend for that alone. A better audiobook performance and potentially a skillfully abridged version of this audiobook would make it 5 star gold.

Thought provoking story, if in need of editing

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Not a perfect novel. But very engaging and grapples with really interesting subject matter in an imaginative and engaging way. I loved the way the characters developed (especially the main character) and I loved the way he dealt with the moral complexities of the predicament the main characters find themselves in. Also a great take on the interplay between humans and technology and humans and their place in the universe

Brilliant thoughtful novel

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I loved the Mars series, where they felt dynamic and continuously expanded on the story, this one felt so linear that the end was predictable several hours out. A bit disappointing..

A bit tedious

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made me look at the world anew and question what bravery is and the folly of human endeavor

great

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