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Audiobooks > Science Fiction >  General Science Fiction > Powersat

Download Powersat Audiobook

Extended Audio Sample Powersat Audiobook, by Ben Bova Click for printable size audiobook cover
3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 3.00 (308 ratings) (rate this audio book) Author: Ben Bova Narrator: Stefan Rudnicki Publisher: Blackstone Publishing Format: Unabridged Audiobook Delivery: Instant Download Audio Length: Series: The Grand Tour Series Release Date: October 2011 ISBN: 9781455193578
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Two hundred thousand feet up, things go horribly wrong. An experimental low-orbit spaceplane breaks up on reentry, falling to earth over a trail hundreds of miles long. And in its wake is the beginning of the most important mission in the history of space.

America needs energy, and Dan Randolph is determined to give it to them. He dreams of an array of geosynchronous powersats, satellites that gather solar energy and beam it to generators on Earth, freeing America from its addiction to fossil fuels and breaking the power of the oil cartels forever. But the wreck of the spaceplane has left his company, Astro Manufacturing, on the edge of bankruptcy.

Worse, Dan discovers that the plane worked perfectly right up until the moment that saboteurs knocked it out of the sky. And whoever brought it down is willing—and able—to kill again to keep Astro grounded.

Now Dan has to thread a dangerous maze. The visible threats are bad enough: Rival firms want to buy him out and take control of his dreams. His former lover wants to co-opt his unlimited-energy idea as a campaign plank for the candidate she’s grooming for the presidency. NASA and the FAA want to shut down his maverick firm. And his creditors are breathing down his neck.

Making matters even more dangerous, an international organization of terrorists sees the powersat as a threat to their own oil-based power. And they’ve figured out how to use it as a weapon in their war against the West.

A sweeping mix of space, murder, romance, politics, secrets, and betrayal, Powersat will take you to the edge of space and the dawning of a new world.

Download and start listening now!

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Quotes & Awards

  • “Bova gets better and better, combining plausible science with increasingly complex fiction.”

    Los Angeles Daily News

  • “A classic guy’s tale…Bova is a spare writer who nevertheless crafts the perfect voice for each of his characters.”

    San Antonio Express News

  • “Bova’s mastery of mixing hard scientific theories with compelling romantic and political intrigue is evident once again…Not surprisingly, the prolific Bova provides a page-turner of the highest order, as entertaining as it is inspiring. Readers will have a hard time putting this book down.”

    Barnes and Noble, editorial review

  • “A suspenseful ride and plenty of high-tech hardware.”

    Publishers Weekly

  • “Bova’s dedication to space exploration as well as his grasp of today’s discoveries make his SF tales some of the most down-to-earth explorations of the real possibilities of future technology. A strong addition to most SF collections, with additional appeal to YA audiences.”

    Library Journal

  • “Tom Clancy-like danger and intrigue.”

    Amazing

Listener Opinions

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Dennis | 2/17/2014

    " Once I started I realized that I'd read this book before. I enjoyed it the second time even though I knew what was comming. "

  • 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 David | 2/14/2014

    " While Bova is known for delivering very hard science fiction, this novel is likely to leave SF fans dissapointed. This noevel shows more realistically what the early ground stages of space exploration would entail. It is more of a novel of intrigue and suspense. It lacks the common tropes of science fiction, but it shows that to get to the point of space colonization, it would require a lot of initial work. It illustrates how developing a power satelite would be beneficial for our planet to have alternate sources of energy. The portrayal of Muslims/Arabs is somewhat questionable and was clearly written in the aftermath of 9/11. Again, it is a more realistic and practical story involving a concept that is currently science fiction, but may appeal more to readers of the political suspense genre rather than Bova's usual domain of SF. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 John | 2/9/2014

    " I picked this up as it is supposed to be the start of Bova's Grand Tour Series. It is more of a political thriller in the same vein as Clancy with some SF notions thrown in. The plot moved along nicely and kept me interested, although it was a bit far fetched at times. It did impress me enough that I'll try some of the other books in the series. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Joanne | 1/9/2014

    " a real page turner- finished all 400pages in 1 week "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Richard Bangs | 1/9/2014

    " Good adventure story firmly rooted in science and current events. Well written. Plot is well crafted, characters well described. Biggest weakness is that there is little suspense toward the end. The evil guys are transparent and the heros win, as usual. "

  • 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Vinny | 1/1/2014

    " couldn't develop an interest. I started but did not finish. Characters were simplistic, and I am always suspicious when the same characters keep popping up in different situations, as if there aren't 6 billion people on the planet. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Terri Light | 12/27/2013

    " I wanted hard sci-fi and I found this one to be a political thriller with a little tech filled in. It was OK, just not what I was in the mood for. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Victor Dicarlo | 11/28/2013

    " Not one of Ben Bova's best. Interesting read though and a good climax. Wish he wouldn't use so many of those "double-damn's". It's really not how people actually talk. If you swear, then swear properly. Just my 2 cents. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Sarebear | 10/30/2013

    " It was a bit of a slog but decent. Reading it because I've read one or two others sort of loosely further in this "series" that I like. "

  • 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Sylvia | 10/22/2013

    " I've enjoyed other Bova books, but this was really disappointing. The main character was unlikeable, the plot really thin. I was expecting science fiction and got a poor attempt at a techno-thriller. Bova should leave that genre to Tom Clancy. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Shannon Appelcline | 7/27/2013

    " Golden-age science-fiction written in a more modern style. Generally a good book, though the plot occasionally has holes in it. "

  • 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Craig Becker | 5/3/2013

    " I just couldn't get into this book, Bova has written so many other works that are at least a bit better than this thing. Characters are mostly stereotypes and I just couldn't muster up much caring about the plot line or anything else. Total waste of my time. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Jeffrey Cavanaugh | 4/28/2013

    " A mixture of 'Tucker: A Man and His Dream' in space and 'Syriana', Powersat is a fun, if not terribly well written, tale of high technology, corporate maneuvering, and politics set in the near future. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Billy Maise | 4/14/2013

    " Decent sci-fi thriller. I'll probably try another of Bova's books at some point. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Allen Petro | 3/25/2013

    " Typical Bova characters. The storyline is ok, but I didnt quite buy that the main character keep wanting the woman that was his old flame. Get over it. Nothing to great about the book, but not a waste of time either. "

  • 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Russ | 2/10/2013

    " bit tiresome,nice if you like satellites & good for prelude to grand tour,..hard work & seemingly pointless. "

  • 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Christian | 11/10/2012

    " What a piece of crap. Everything I hate about cheap, lazy SF. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Steven Benson | 9/15/2012

    " Liked it, great science, awesome idea. Wish we still had a viable space program, instead of the shell of what the past two administrations have done to NASA. Not a fan of the depiction of Muslims. The real science idea of a solar collector satellite is so intriguing, wish they'd do it! "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Drew | 8/21/2012

    " Dan Randolf is my hero! "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Rob Roy | 8/16/2012

    " A fast pace story of technology, Luddites, and terrorists. "

  • 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Inlinefourpower | 6/19/2012

    " Just not that great. I read it because I figured i'd start with Bova's grand tour in chronological order, but it really feels like he phoned this one in. There's nothing you need to know from this book that you can't pick up just starting with Privateers, a much better novel. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Keith Bell | 12/13/2011

    " I love Ben Bova's books. Of course I am a Sci-Fi geek at times. "

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About the Author
Author Ben Bova

Ben Bova was born in Philadelphia and received his doctorate in education from California Coast University in 1996. The author of over 120 futuristic novels and nonfiction books, he has also been a radio commentator, editor, lecturer, and aerospace industry executive. His articles, opinion pieces, and reviews have appeared in Scientific American, Nature, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and many other publications. His work has earned six Hugo Awards. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Arthur C. Clarke Foundation in 2005, and his novel Titan won the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for the best science fiction novel of 2006.

About the Narrator

Stefan Rudnicki first became involved with audiobooks in 1994. Now a Grammy-winning audiobook producer, he has worked on more than three thousand audiobooks as a narrator, writer, producer, or director. He has narrated more than three hundred audiobooks. A recipient of multiple AudioFile Earphones Awards, he was presented the coveted Audie Award for solo narration in 2005, 2007, and 2014, and was named one of AudioFile’s Golden Voices in 2012.

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