Oxygen (Oxygen Series, Book 1) (Paperback)

by Randall Ingermanson (Author), John B. Olson (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
In 2014, microbial ecologist and medical doctor Valkerie Jansen is thrilled to be part of Ares 10, the first manned mission to Mars. Unfortunately, the other three crew members resent her because another crew member was cut to make room for her and because she's outspoken about her Christianity. From the start, problems plague the mission, and because of high winds at the launch, a tail fin clips the tower, leaving the rocket damaged. As Valkerie begins to believe that the commander is sabotaging the ship, her fellow crew members suspect that she's developing a paranoia complex. When a bomb destroys part of their power supply, everyone points the finger at someone else. With their oxygen running out before they can reach base camp on Mars, a radical suggestion threatens the crew's stability even further, and Valkerie must rely on her faith to help her survive. Olson and Christy Award-winning Ingermanson (Transgression) combine solid sf with an increasingly tense mystery for a fantastic addition to any collection.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
*Starred Review* Only a few years ago, science fiction seemed a vexed genre in Christian fiction, but Olson and Ingermanson demonstrate how far it has come in Oxygen, the meticulously authentic tale of a mission to Mars that goes awry. Pressured by the media to launch during prime time and fearful that anything less than a dramatically successful mission will cause congressional funding to evaporate, NASA cuts some corners and imperils the mission's power supply. Valkerie Jansen, the Christian physician assigned to the craft, and Bob Kaganovski, physicist and space mechanic, join two others in righting the handicapped craft, but in deep space, there's an explosion, reducing the ship's oxygen supply. To conserve it, three crew members are placed in comas, while Valkerie guides the ship onward, conserving power and oxygen in a scenario reminiscent of the flight of Apollo 13. Olson and Ingermanson draw their characters carefully, keep tension high, and introduce real spiritual dilemmas without being preachy. They capture the ironic repartee of astronauts to the last nuance. The result is a real delight. John Mort
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (May 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764224425
• ISBN-13: 978-0764224423
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #542,659 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #90 in

  Books > Religion & Spirituality > Fiction > Science Fiction & Fantasy

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Web of Suspicion, May 28, 2002

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

I enjoyed Ingermanson's "Transgression," but this book takes his writing to another level. What starts out as a basic trip to Mars (could that really be basic?) turns into a nightmare of suspicion, sabotage, and stretches of faith. Through witty and believable dialogue, with detailed research and thorough but never cumbersome facts, the authors sweep us along into a captivating scenario. Along the way, we come to know Bob and Valkerie and the others that surround their work and relationship. The web of suspicion draws tighter and tighter until the last fifty pages when even further surprises are revealed. What seems to be a fairly straightforward survival-in-space story contains much more. I read the last paragraph with a smile, a short laugh, and my heart in my throat. This is smooth and effortless storytelling. Well worth it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Requires at LEAST 2 sequels, June 18, 2001

By	Rodney M. Wren, II (Summerfield, Florida USA) - See all my reviews

Didn't want to put it down, but things (ie. work, eating, sleeping) required me to. The story line was well thought out and written and the suspense was at times too much to bear, especially when Valkerie was the only one of the four awake and hearing strange noises.

Randy, John: Get writing. At least 1 book about their work on Mars and 1 book to get them home.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Meaningful SciFi, November 22, 2005

By	Jedidiah Palosaari "Not My Real Name" (New Glarus, WI) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This was a well-crafted story, with believable characters and good character development. Ingermanson has a great ability to create truly round characters, with real change- but believable change. It's pretty easy to make someone suddenly Christian and therefore perfect. He creates Christians that are flawed. It's pretty easy even for Christians to harsh on Christians, and show only their bad side. Ingermanson shows how they are different because Christ guides their life.

Ironically therefore the one flaw in the work is when he writes conversations, particularly religious conversations. He seems to present a more believable life when he is just describing the daily life. When he begins to have the characters talk about their beliefs, it's not completely bad, but there's something missing that makes the conversations sound a little too "religious".

It's still full science fiction though. The book looks at very plausible near future events, and all that could transpire. It is the best kind of science fiction, in not just trying to write about the future, but rather writing about real people, struggling in a future environment. Perhaps the most meaningful aspect of this is the issues of forgiveness, honesty, and paranoia. The characters have to learn to trust each other and God if they are to forgive; and to forgive if they are to survive. The reader then learns a little bit more about trusting God and others through the characters' lives.