Brenna @ the Service Center Archive.

Mission Control, This is Apollo: the story of the first voyages to the Moon
by Andrew Chaikin and Alan Bean

Chaikin, an NPR Morning Edition commentator and the author of A Man on the Moon, profiles each of the Apollo Missions, including the legendary Apollo 11 Mission which celebrated its 40th Anniversary this year. Each chapter briefly outlines the mission (dates, commanders, pilots, objectives, mission patches, etc), but also includes stories about the people involved. Armstrong, for instance, didn't spend a lot of time pondering his historic words; he was too busy avoiding craters! Of course, not all missions were so successful, as discussed in the chapter on the infamous Apollo Thirteen. Vintage photos show the jury-rigged filter that helped save the astronauts lives and another grainy photo shows the crippled module. Brief sections explore the finer points of space travel, from the rather discomforting physical side-effects as described in "The Dark Side of Zero-G" and "When You Gotta Go, You Gotta Go" to technical details like those in "The Moon Rocket" and "Clothes Make the Moonwalker". The brief introduction outlines the preceding Mercury and Gemini programs.

In addition to the wonderful photographs, Alan Bean contributes his amazing paintings to the book. Bean, who landed on the moon with Apollo Twelve and knows what he paints, brings a unique perspective to the book. An entrancing mix of color, light and texture, these paintings bring the lunar landscapes alive. A chapter at the end of the book explains how Bean paints, a process that includes small models astronauts, replica moon-boots and even fragments of capsule heat shields and foil insulation. Informational, but also celebratory, Mission Control, This is Apollo, is a treat for history and space buffs of any age.

Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart

Linda Martin longs to return to France, where she lived until her parents died. She's spent the last few years in an English orphanage, first as one of the orphans and then as a teacher. When she is introduced to Heloise de Valmy, who is looking for a governess for her nine-year-old nephew, the Comte de Valmy, she leaps at the job. She's so eager, in fact, that she lies a bit about her skills. Madame de Valmy seems to want an English governess who speaks little French. Linda speaks fluent French, but she hides her ability, thinking it a small sin. Little lies can sometimes lead to big adventures.

The Valmy estate is a brooding place, ruled over by the crippled, autocratic Leon de Valmy. Her charge, little Philippe, is a serious, skittish child. As she bonds with Philippe, she begins to wonder why he is the victim of so many strange accidents. Snippets of overheard conversations make her curious about Leon de Valmy too. He is Philippe's guardian and the caretaker of the estate, but he seems obsessed with the land and dismissive of the boy. Even the other servants are secretive and strange. When Raoul de Valmy, Leon's rakish son, arrives for a visit, Linda is drawn even further into the family and their mysteries. Then things take a deadly turn and Linda must  decide where her loyalties truly lie, despite what her heart might want.

Romantic suspense doesn't get any better than Mary Stewart. She's not as steamy as her modern successors, but, with just implied steam, she keeps the tension taunt. Linda is a self-acknowledged Jane Eyre, caught up in a Gothic mystery with a sinister, brooding hero. Philippe is suitably charming, as is Raoul (in completely different ways of course!). Other memorable characters include a Parisian fashion designer and and the ubiquitous English housekeeper. Descriptions are lush, as expected in a Mary Stewart novel. Readers looking for a classic romance or a classic suspense tale will enjoy Nine Coaches Waiting. Reading along with Jane Eyre can be fun too!

Shakespeare's Wife by Germaine Greer

Little is known about Shakespeare's wife, Anne Hathaway, but that doesn't stop scholars from trying to figure her out. Many have decided that she must have been the worst of wives, a shrewish, ugly woman who drove her husband off to London. She was, after all, eight years older than Shakespeare and he only left her his second-best bed in his will (they ignore the fact that she would automatically receive 1/3 of his estate). But Germaine Greer looks at Anne Hathaway from a decidedly feminist perspective. She analyzes the documents of the era, especially those pertaining to life in Stratford. This examination brings Elizabethan England to life, revealing a culture vastly different from our own.

Greer presents the possibility of an Anne Shakespeare who was a partner to her husband and a success in her own right. Anne, she points out, was a good catch. Her family ran a successful farm and she had a dowry. Elizabethans married in their mid to late twenties, so at twenty-six, she was no spinster. Will, on the other hand, was underage and from a family in debt up to their ears. He had no occupation that we know of until he went to London. In short, Will got a deal. Women like Anne often ran businesses and farms, usually with their husbands, but sometimes independently. Cottage industry products, like knitted hose and lace, were usually produced by women, as were foodstuffs like beer and cheese. Many men of Shakespeare's class traveled to London on business and stayed away for long periods at a time. They didn't take their families. London wasn't a healthy place for a wife or children. Their lives in the city didn't necessarily reflect on the families they left behind either; what happens in London stays in London and all that. Greer's portrayal of an industrious Anne who supports the family while Will pursues his career is convincing and inspiring. This Anne is no shrew or sad, deserted wife. She is an active, intelligent woman, capable of winning the Bard's love and worthy of keeping it.

While a bit academic, readers interested in history, women's roles or Shakespeare will find plenty of tidbits in this book to keep them reading. And it will give you a whole new perspective on "women's work".

Archangel by Sharon Shinn

Angels rule the world of Sameria and chief amongst them is the Archangel. Raphael, the current leader, is old and his successor, Gabriel, is eager to assume his duties. There's just one catch; Gabriel needs a wife. The upcoming festival of songs, the Gloria, which must be sung to their god Jovah, requires that his wife sing at his side. If the Gloria isn't performed, Jovah will rain disasters down upon Sameria. Gabriel dutifully visits the oracle Josiah, learns his predestined wife's name, and goes in search of her. Unfortunately, Rachel's village has been destroyed and he can find no trace of her. When he does track her down, he finds out that she is the slave of a powerful noble. Angels generally keep themselves apart from the rest of humanity and don't pay much attention to class or ethnic struggles, so he's surprised when Rachel turns out to be an adamant defender of her oppressed Edori people. He's even more alarmed by the fact that Rachel doesn't want to be his wife. With Raphael proving corrupt and Rachel proving difficult, Gabriel must somehow sort everyone out before its too late.

Sharon Shinn's Sameria series is a fun blend of science fiction, fantasy, and romance. The odd bits of technology in this biblical society hint at the origins of the world and the true identity of Jovah. Shinn writes her characters well, making their conflicted loyalties the center of the story. This is for readers who like Anne McCaffrey.

Goong by SoHee Park

Imagine a modern Korea where the traditional monarchy still rules. This is the basis of SoHee Park's manwha (Korean graphic novel), Goong, The Royal Palace. This royal family (like so many others), has seen its share of turmoil. In fact, the current king only ascended the throne because his elder brother died prematurely. His father died not long after. This small fact will change the life of Che-Kyung, a commoner girl who has no idea what's in store for her. Che-Kyung's grandfather knew the current king's father. Their friendship was so strong that, unbeknownst to Che-Kyung, a promise was made. She was betrothed to the Crown Prince. Now, Che-Kyung actually knows the Crown Prince. They go to the same school. But she's never really interacted with him. He's completely out of her sphere, rude, arrogant and maybe even cruel. An illness in the Royal family changes that. Suddenly, the betrothal is revealed and Che-Kyung is expected to marry Prince Shin. She's going to refuse, of course! There's just one tiny problem; her parents are broke, the debt collectors are at the door and she could save them. She just has to marry Shin and become the Crown Princess of Korea.

This series is great fun. Che-Kyung and Shin start out hating each other, but its easy to see that there is some attraction between them. Shin needs a goofy girl like Che-Kyung to lighten him up and she needs someone more serious to straighten her own. Classic romance, right? More like the perfect set-up for the classic love triangle (which I usually hate, but this one works). Before Shin and Che-Kyung even have a chance to see what's between them, Shin's long lost cousin, Prince Yul (who would have been Crown Prince and Che-Kyung's fiancee if his father hadn't died) comes on the scene and messes everything up. To make matters worse, Shin has an old girlfriend who's just not ready to let him go (although she doesn't want to marry him and commit to being Crown Princess).

Yes, this is a soap opera to beat all soap operas. But its entertaining, gorgeously drawn, and full of intriguing politics and history. Their families are a big part of the story too. Shin's grandmother is a highlight of the series. Its still ongoing in Korea and currently only the first 5 volumes are available in the US. More volumes are due this fall, but you can also check out the equally charming live-action TV show, Palace. No guarantees that that the endings will be the same!

Dreams of Trespass by Fatima Mernissi

"Women dreamed of trespass all the time." This isn't the first line in Moroccan sociologist Fatima Mernissi's memoir of her childhood growing up in Fez in the 1940s, but it is the line that has stuck with me. Words hold power for Mernissi and she often explores their meaning and function. She likens herself to Scheherazade, the storyteller of the Arabian Nights who wields words to survive. Its a good analogy; Scheherazade is a cultural touchstone who crosses many divides. Like Scheherazade, Mernissi isn't just the teller of her own tale. She writes about the lives of her parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Her mother, a central figure in her story, is vibrant and opinionated, bucking the system at every turn and yet confined securely within it. A farm girl whose family harem was more of a mental than physical space, she struggles with the communal living of her urban in-laws. She nags her husband to set up an independent dwelling and urges her daughter to reach for happiness through education and modernity. Her loving husband does his best to walk the fine line between his wife's desires and his family's traditions. Mernissi observes it all from the sidelines, but she brings each parent, auntie and cousin in to clear and vivid focus.

Mernissi's book is one I often turn back to, a book that conquers frontiers and boundaries simply by discussing them frankly and sincerely. She begins her memoir with a grainy picture of a closed door and the chapter "My Harem Frontiers". I find her use of the word frontier interesting. In America, it conjures the unknown, discoveries yet to be made, hardships yet to be faced. But Mernissi's door is closed and for her the word has an entirely different meaning. She writes of hudud, the sacred frontier, a boundary between worlds. It divides men and women, but also cultures and religions. It also separates the powerful and the powerless. With Dreams of Trespass, Mernissi draws back this veil to reveal the common humanity in all of these diverse worlds.

Touchstone by Laurie R. King

U.S. Bureau of Investigation Agent Harris Stuyvesant goes to London hoping to find a terrorist. Instead, he finds confusion and chaos. Its 1926 and England is on the brink of a General Strike and possibly a revolution if things get out of hand. Frustrated by the bureaucratic roadblocks that keep hindering his investigation, Stuyvesant follows a desperate lead to Aldous Carstairs. Carstairs, a sinister and creepy spook with dubious motives, throws him a bone. Stuyvesant is convinced that the man he's after is Richard Bunson, a golden boy of the Labor Party. Carstairs happens to have a link to a man who's sister works with Bunson. That man is Bennett Grey, a World War I veteran who's wartime injuries resulted in a unique paranormal sensitivity. Carstairs will introduce Stuyvesant to Grey who in return might introduce him into Bunson's circle. Its as complicated a plot as one would expect from a couple of secret agents. There's just one hitch: Grey hates Carstairs. Carstairs made Grey's truth-sensing abilities the foundation of a government experiment. Grey only won his freedom by attacking Carstairs and threatening to kill himself.
 
Luckily for Stuyvesant that doesn't prevent Grey from helping once he knows that they are out to catch a bomber. It does make things tricky though, especially since Carstairs keeps trying to get the better of both of them. Add to that the fact that Grey's sister resembles Stuyvesant's dead girlfriend and that their suspect is having an affair with Grey's ex-fiancee and things don't get any clearer. But no matter the cost, they must discover the real bomber before the General Strike turns into a bloody revolution.

King has a knack for writing characters who are both prickly and endearing. Stuyvesant, a New York bruiser and crafty agent, is also a loving brother and loyal friend. Grey, broken and remade by the war, has a sense of tarnished innocence about him that is sometimes at odds with his suicidal ruthless streak. The growing friendship between these two propells the story along. King also does a great job with the setting, bringing to life the tensions between capitalist and communist factions. The radical vs. regime arguement will invite current day comparions, but for the modern reader there's also a bit of naivety to the struggle. Some of their grand gestures seem just that: gestures, not actions that will change the future of society and humanity. That disparity just settles the story even more firmly in its place, lending both the sophistication of historical accuracy and the feel of an era where many of the events that make the modern age jaded have yet to occur. The mystery is good too, but its really the characters and setting that make this a great read.

The Orphan's Tales: In the Night Garden by Catherynne M. Valente

"There was once a child whose face was like the new moon shining on cypress trees and the feathers of waterbirds." Thus begins this book of weird tales. The child, a girl, was cursed by a spirit shortly after her birth. She has dark, tattoo-like marks around her eyes. These marks, although they look like lines of kohl, actually contain endless strings of words. The girl can read them when she tries hard enough. And try she must, for the spirit promised to return and judge her once all of the tales are read out.

These strange marks brand the girl as a demon in the Sultan's palace where she lives. Even her parents avoid her. She is left to roam the gardens, living off the fruits that grow there and refuse of the Court. One day, a boy ventures near and declares that he is not afraid of her. Of course, he really is, but his boldness pleases the girl, who is lonely, so she tells him the secret of her marks. She offers to tell him one of her tales as well. With this offer, their relationship begins. He sneaks into the gardens whenever he can, bringing food in exchange for a tale. When his eldest sister discovers them and forbid him to visit the "demon-girl", she sneaks inside to find him. All the while, the tales unfold in patchwork pieces.

Valente's language-rich writing sews these pieces together. The tales are enigmatic and ephemeral, blurring from one viewpoint to another and back again. The settings are strange and exotic. Many of the narrators aren't human at all, but creatures from myth and legend. As each snippet ends, the reader is often left with more questions than answers, but these loose threads work in a Scheherazade-like fashion. You flip the page just to see where the story wanders next. While this chaotic style might not appeal to everyone, readers looking for unique, lyrical fantasy tales will find this book and its sequel, In the Cities of Coin and Spice, fascinating.

Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

Vin grows up as a fugitive of the Final Empire, a totalitarian regime ruled over by the divine Lord Ruler. Once he was mortal, the great Hero of Ages who saved the world. Now, a thousand years later, he rules through his merciless Steel Ministry. Even the privileged nobles, descendants of his long-ago comrades, are wary of the Ministry's power.

Vin is a half-breed: half noble and half Skaa, a slave race. Half-breeds are killed immediatly upon discovery. Some nobles can wield Allomancy, a magic based upon metals. These Mistings use metals to manipulate the physical or psychic world around them. Mistborn can use all of these metals. The Lord Ruler wants to make certain no Skaa are born with Allomantic powers, so the Ministry tries to keep the bloodlines pure. A few, like Vin, always slip through.

She's found a precarious position as a "good luck charm" for a thieving crew, but their newest scheme brings her under the scrutiny of the Ministry. The Ministry seems to guess her secret; not only is she a half-breed, she has powers. The "luck" she wields is Allomantic in nature.

Before the Ministry closes in, she catches the attention of Kelsier, the Survivor of Hathsin. He earned his nickname by surviving the Empire's deadliest prison. Not only did he come out of the Pits of Hathsin alive, he emerged with his Mistborn powers awakened. Now he's determined to bring down the Final Empire. He's assembled a group of Skaa Mistings to pull off this rebellion and he wants Vin to join them. But can a girl who trusts no one and nothing believe in his impossible crusade?

Mistborn: The Final Empire is followed by The Well of Ascension and The Hero of Ages.

Thief with No Shadow by Emily Gee

Melke is a wraith, born with the ability to turn invisible. Wraiths are reviled, thought to be thieves and deceivers. Melke has always hidden her powers and avoided using them. But then her brother is captured by fire salamanders, cruel, magical creatures, who are not fooled by her powers. They want a necklace in return for her brother. This necklace is hidden away on a nearby farm. Using her powers, Melke slips into the house and steals the necklace, little guessing what ramifications that act will have.

The necklace is the key to breaking a curse on the sal Vere family. Bastian sal Vere hoped to use the recently recovered necklace to save his sister's life and restore his family fortunes. Bastian has a magical ability of his own, the power to speak with animals. With the help of his dog, Endal, he tracks Melke to the salamander's lair. Too late to prevent the salamanders from claiming the necklace, he demands that Melke retrieve it from them before the next equinox when his sister's life is forfiet. In return, he will save her injured brother's life (the salmanders didn't promise to return him unharmed). Melke agrees, although she has no idea how to accomplish the task.

This stand-alone novel presents an interesting world and characters. Melke and Bastian are equally proud and desparate. In Bastian, that combination sometimes results in cruelty and blindness. In Melke, it more often turns inward, cutting her off from others and provoking her into rash actions. The tension between these two characters propels the story along. Bastian's sister, Liana, and Melke's brother, Hantje, are nice foils for the sharp-edged protaganists. In a genre rife with never-ending series and complex world-building, this dark, romantic fantasy is refreshingly straightforward and simple. Fans of Anne Bishop, Maria Snyder or Ann Aguirre might enjoy this tale.