ORBIT (audiobook) by John J. Nance

Published by Brilliance Audio in 2006
Read by the author, John J. Nance
Duration: approximately 6 hours.

This near future science fiction book is actually a ¨near past¨ book now. Written in 2006 but set in 2009 (why would Nance set the date so close to the date he published it? I just ignored the date and went on). 

 
The premise of the book is that private, simplified space shuttles are regularly flying back and forth to the international space station, to put satellites into orbit and to take space tourists for a day trip into space and back. Kip Dawson, a salesman, has won a trip to space - the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. His wife, however, is sure that this trip will result in disaster and has told Kip that if he goes she is leaving with the kids and going back to live with her father.

Kip decides to go anyway, figuring he will make up with his wife when he comes back. But, when a tiny meteor passes through the shuttle, destroying the radios and drilling a hole right through the head of the pilot Kip realizes that he has to bring the shuttle down all by himself with no outside help or just stay in orbit and die. Turns out his wife was right after all.

John J. Nance, the author, read this audiobook himself. I was a bit leery about this and was not encouraged when I first heard Nance. But, he grows on you and by the end of the story I was riveted (sorry, no details - I want to avoid spoilers).

I rate this audiobook 5 stars out of 5.

This audiobook can be found on Amazon.com here: Orbit: A Novel

Reviewed on May 18, 2014.

Turbulence by John J. Nance

This thriller hits the same notes over and over again but it sucks the reader in

Published in 2002.

Turbulence is not a subtle book - Nance hits on two themes over and over again with an enthusiasm akin to that of Animal from the Muppet Show pounding on a set of drums. Those two themes are: airlines often have poor customer service that needlessly aggravates the travelling public. Secondly, airline employees can be poorly trained and inadequate to the challenges of international travel.

However, he does make an interesting little novel here about an airplane full of people who have been pushed too far by rude employees, senseless delays on the runways and incompetent decision-making by the pilots. Throw in a violent misunderstanding and you've got the makings of a passenger mutiny and a sharp thriller.

4 out of 5 stars.

This book can be found on Amazon.com here: Turbulence.

Reviewed on December 4, 2009.