Bova, Ben. Powersat. Grand Tour No. 1. Tor, 2005.
Ben Bova is a writer who belongs in the conversation with such icons of future-history science fiction as Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein, Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle, Gregory Benford, and Steven Baxter. For me, he is the least of these, yet he is a worthy member of this exclusive club. Bova’s Grand Tour series began in 1985 and did not conclude until just before his death in 2020. Each novel is set in a different part of the solar system. In the twenty-seven novels in the series, he covered Old Sol’s playground thoroughly enough. I am not sure the internal chronology of the series is consistent. The novels were not published in chronological order, so it was always difficult to keep track of the historical timeline.
Powersat is the first in the series chronologically, but the series was already 20 years along when it was written. Its protagonist is Dan Randolph, an aerospace entrepreneur, who has built a satellite to beam power down to a receiving station in Alaska. To make his business profitable, he needs to develop a space plane to shuttle crews to and from the satellite. He is opposed by American bureaucracies and by several international competitors. His leadership style is a my-way-or-the-highway, and he is not always tuned in to the human dynamics around him. Bova is not as good at making him likable as Heinlein was for similar characters. His casual heart-on-sleeve attitude toward sex reminds me of John D. McDonald’s Travis McGhee, but it is less mature. The plot of Powersat could use more focus, but Bova achieves a good balance of action, character drama and scientific exposition. 4 stars—for historic value if nothing else. ( )

I last read most of the The Grand Tour in high school or earlier, jumping about from book to book in no particular order. I don't even know if I read The Grand Tour, especially given that it might not have been out yet. It's a bit of a strange book, set first chronologically but written decades after others in the series. I was looking for an audiobook series to listen to next and this seemed worth a try.

Plotwise, it's near future science fiction, with a world similar enough to the modern world that nothing seems impossible but exploring what could be / could have been. It's not the sort of science fiction I generally read, but so it goes. The idea of the powersat and the spaceplanes is neat and the idea of NASA transferring responsibilities to private companies seems increasingly prescient every year (the last space shuttle flight was 6 years after this book was published). The ending in particular has just the right push of scifi action and adventure to keep me reading by itself.

Characterwise, I really don't like Dan Randolph. He's the worst sort of 'alpha male' personality, absolutely sure he's right at all times and uses and discards all those around him, women in particular. Having a main character you don't care for can work, but it certainly makes things harder. On top of that, there are a pile of other stereotypes. Women are described physically first and are all different variations on beautiful, and while they're often intelligent or successful of their own right, it always feels like an afterthought.

Perhaps it's a product of the point of view, the story purposely colored by Randolph's point of view. Perhaps it comes from a story that was started in the 80s. Perhaps an author born in the 30s. Perhaps it's how the world still is. In any case, it's not a world I'd generally choose to read about.

In any case, not my favorite story. But it's good enough to give the rest a try. I'm especially looking forward to the books post-Dan Randolph. :D ( )

Best Bova novel I have read so far. This is a very modern work by this author. It is more thriller than Sci-Fi. Good read. ( )

I had a hard time getting into this story. None of the characters were likeable, admirable, or exhibited any traits that prompted me to care what happened to them. The protagonist, and most of the other characters (including politicians, businessmen, and engineers), behave like emotionally unstable teenagers being dragged around by their gonads. There was a point in which the protagonist practically has a temper tantrum when speaking with his ex-girlfriend (who is now a US senator) that almost caused me to close this one unfinished. I trudged on, but between the blatant sexism and unbelievably naive characters, this novel simply did not appeal to me. ( )

More a terrestrial drama of human proportions than SciFi. Also, a study in super egos and the differing perspectives of business versus politicians. The book stretches credibility with quick reaction launches of a commercial space plane. I particularly enjoyed the CEOs problem solving when grounded for flying by government bureaucracy. Typical Bova. ( )