Zero-G [Paperback]

Alton Gansky (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 16, 2007

Poised to make history, SpaceVentures, Inc., hovers on the brink of launching the first commercial space flight. And Benjamin 'Tuck' Tucker's skill and reputation have thrust the new company into the forefront in this powerful new space race. A veteran astronaut and national hero, Tuck accepts the coveted honor---and the risk---of piloting the Legacy on her maiden space voyage. The danger is far greater than just the perceived risks. The real threat, a plot far deadlier than anyone could have imagined, is exposed as Legacy reaches the suborbital regions of space. Suspended seventy miles above Earth, Tuck must use his skill and his faith---faith in a God he has found it hard to trust since a deadly tragedy in space over a year before---as he fights an unknown enemy who will not hesitate to kill again.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Gansky's suspenseful novel grabs hold of the reader on the first page and doesn't let go. The hero—and he is very much a courageous, old-style hero—is Tuck Tucker, a NASA astronaut who is devastated when, on his third mission in outer space, every member of his crew gets violently sick and he is the only one to survive. Was the inexplicable illness that claimed Tuck's crew a freak accident, or did someone try to destroy the mission? Tuck blames God for failing to save the crew, and it takes a year of anger, plus a gentle talking-to from his spiritually insightful and disarming father, before he can make peace with his maker. Indeed, many people are deeply affected by the tragedy: Vincent Pistacchia, whose son died on Tuck's watch, plots revenge; Tuck's family members admit that they've always found his space travel terrifying; and Tuck, plagued by survivor's guilt and nightmares, is deemed unfit to return to space and given a NASA desk job. Tuck gets one last chance to command a space trip thanks to a startup company that makes space travel available to well-heeled tourists, But someone's out to get Tuck, and things go dreadfully wrong. Fast-paced plotting and strong character development make this one of Gansky's best. (Nov.)
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Review

Gansky's suspenseful novel grabs hold of the reader on the first page and doesn't let go. The hero---and he is very much a courageous, old-style hero---is 'Tuck' Tucker, a NASA astronaut who is devastated when, on his third mission in outer space, every member of his crew gets violently sick and he is the only one to survive. Was the inexplicable illness that claimed Tuck's crew a freak accident, or did someone try to destroy the mission? Tuck blames God for failing to save the crew, and it takes a year of anger, plus a gentle talking-to from his spiritually insightful and disarming father, before he can make peace with his maker. Indeed, many people are deeply affected by the tragedy: Vincent Pistacchia, whose son died on Tuck's watch, plots revenge; Tuck's family members admit that they've always found his space travel terrifying; and Tuck, plagued by survivor's guilt and nightmares, is deemed unfit to return to space and given a NASA desk job. Tuck gets one last chance to command a space trip thanks to a startup company that makes space travel available to well-heeled tourists, But someone's out to get Tuck, and things go dreadfully wrong. Fast-paced plotting and strong character development make this one of Gansky's best. (Nov.) -- Publisher's Weekly

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 330 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (October 16, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310272114
• ISBN-13: 978-0310272113
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,002,232 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Alton Gansky (www.altongansky.com) has written a number of other novels, including Zero-G, Finder's Fee, Director's Cut, Before Another Dies, The Prodigy, and the J. D. Stanton mystery series. He also writes nonfiction books that explore the mysteries of faith, the Bible, and God. He and his wife, Becky, have three adult children and live in Southern California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Aiming for the Stars, December 1, 2007

By 

Eric Wilson "novelist" (Nashville, TN United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Zero-G (Paperback)

For years, Alton Gansky has served up dollops of suspense, mystery, and even some supernatural thrills. With "Zero-G" he offers a book that ranks with some of his best.

Benjamin Tucker, a NASA astronaut, suffers through a tragedy on a shuttle mission. He returns as a hero, but he is still plagued by grief and doubts, all of which he bottles up. His family fears for his involvement in any future assignments, yet Tuck can't resist the draw of a new private enterprise, aimed at taking citizens on commercial flights toward the stars. It's a chance to renew himself and take a different branch in his career, while playing off his status as a respected American icon. The only problem is that his family has concerns, and others have ulterior--and deadly--motives.

Like two of my other favorite CBA sci-fi novels, Ingermanson's "Oxygen" and Johnson's "Ice", this book is fast-paced, yet never forgets to care about its characters. The details are never too much, providing just enough believable and intriguing backdrop for a suspenseful tale. The villains aren't given much time, but they do have credible motives. Although a few of the final components seem to wrap up a bit quickly and tidily, it all fits within this market's expectations and will please Gansky's growing fan base.

In conclusion, Tuck is challenged to consider how far his faith will go in the face of death. There's nice usage of a famous poem to parallel his spiritual journey. With Gansky's continued prolific output, we can all look forward to many more imaginative stories from one of the most consistent in the industry.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gansky Does It Again, December 7, 2007

By 

James A. Nichols (Midwest City, OK) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Zero-G (Paperback)

Alton Gansky covers a lot of different territories in his novels. In this novel he is writing about Benjamin Tucker, a NASA Astronaut, who is involved in a tragedy in space. He is thought of as a hero for his work during the tragedy but is left scarred. He leaves NASA to join a private group interested in sending the first commercial flights into space. Others hold grudges and unforeseen people are against Tucker. All of this causes Him to question his faith in God. A great novel that is worth the read.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good read, March 10, 2008

By 

John Thornton (Midwest) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zero-G (Paperback)

Alton Gansky's book "Zero-G" is an excellent novel. It involves a disaster about the space shuttle and the subsequent ramifications of that accident.

I do not want to give plot details away, but let me say the characters are well developed, and realistic. The plot is well written and takes unexpected turns. The dialogue makes the characters even better.

The one slight draw back I have with "Zero-G" is that there are many deaths. They are not detailed in an inappropriate manner, but many people do die as the story unfolds