Reading Tai-Bo

This week I read Oxygen by John Olson and Randy Ingermanson. I’ve been wanting to read this book for a long time, but it was out of print. Written by two Christian Physicists it takes place on the first manned mission to Mars. Only someone has tampered with the ship and they don’t have enough Oxygen to make it…nor enough to make it back.

I loved this book. It kept my up late at night madly clicking the page turn button on my Nook. Once the crew was into space the tension was unbearably high, but in a good way, and the romance was sweet and well thought out. But what I liked most of all was the book’s honest dealing with science and the way that we as believers can view it and even the very scientists themselves as the enemy. The author made it very clear that God does not need anyone to prove His existence. That a believer in the science field can simply rest in her knowledge and relationship with God without feeling like she must alter research to support either the church or the world’s current scientific bent. This part of the book was a refreshing change from some other books and articles that I have encountered and I enjoyed it.

The book did have two problem sections. The first thirty pages or so contained too much action too quickly without any connection to the character. But once she got into the space program this all smoothed out. Then there was a section of about the same size in the middle of the book where everyone got along smashingly. This went on too long and could have been pared down quite a bit, allowing the reader to jump into the next crisis.

All in all it was a marvelous book that made me think and brought tons of cool insider info into the space program and kept me up clicking pages late into the night. Did you know that astronauts have to wear giant diapers, or that if not tied down when they sleep they will float about like zombies with their arms out in front of them and mouths agape?

It’s Frappuccino Thursday.