Titan

December 5, 2005
In the latest planetary saga from Hugo-winner Bova (Mercury
, etc.), the solidly hypothesized science enthralls, especially down on the surface of Saturn's largest moon, Titan. On Christmas Eve 2095, the exploring vehicle Titan Alpha
lumbers around that mysterious minus-183-degree Celsius world of black snow, seeking traces of life. Meanwhile, the human story—chiefly centered on the space habitat Goddard
, in orbit above Saturn—lurches along as laboriously as Alpha
, the tensions among the various stereotypical characters simmering fitfully but rarely coming to a savory boil. Chief scientist Edouard Urbain makes predictable compromises to save his brainchild, Alpha
. Retired CEO and gee-whiz astronaut Pancho Lane takes off on a hairy deep-space jaunt to save Saturn's rings from exploitation from "slimy SOB" Malcolm Eberly, Goddard
's power-hungry leader, once lover to Pancho's reborn sister, Holly. The novel resolves the many personal conflicts in a flurry of silly political maneuvers as old as Aristophanes'Lysistrata
—bring 'em to heel by denying 'em sex—but the result is not half as entertaining or so thought provoking.

Is there life in the rings around Saturn? The answer could affect humanity's settlement of the solar system--and the upcoming election at Goddard colony, which revolves around plans to mine for ice in the rings and pits Holly Lane (sister of the adventurous Pancho) against the devious Malcolm Eberly. The four narrators switch off to help listeners keep track of the many plot threads and provide fairly consistent voices for all the major characters. Their efforts make this space opera easy to follow as the emphasis shifts between political intrigue and scientific exploration. Ben Bova's Grand Tour series mixes sudsy drama and action in the style of the TV series "24." J.A.S. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine