Annotation: Science Fiction

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Science Fiction 

 

Author: Jessie Mihalik

Title: Polaris Rising

Genre: Science Fiction

Publication Date: February 5, 2019

Number of Pages: 448 pages

Geographical Setting: Various space stations, spaceships, and planets outside our solar system.

Time Period: Thousands of years in the future

Series: The Consortium Rebellion

Plot Summary: Princess Ada von Hasenberg, the fifth daughter of one of the three noble houses (Rockhurst, von Hasenberg, and Yamato) is in big trouble. After being on the run for two years, the bounty hunters hired by her father have finally found her. Ada plans to escape with notorious fugitive and murderer, Marcus Loch, but before they can make a mad dash for the escape pod, her estranged fiancé of House Rockhurst intercepts the mercenary ship Ada and Loch are imprisoned on. 

After every possible thing goes wrong, the space princess and wanted criminal crash land on a backwater exoplanet like something out of Star Wars. The fugitive pair grow closer during their time on the run, giving this space opera a sexy twist. The story becomes an intergalactic game of cat and mouse between both Ada and Loch, and her fiancé, who is hell-bent on her capture. The story ends semi-predictably, though war is not evaded between the royal houses, setting up room for more books (there are two so far).

Subject Headings:

Court Intrigue

Galactic Confederation (fictional organization)

Heterosexual Romance

Mihalik, Jessie (author)

Rivals to Lovers

Spaceships

Space Opera

Wars

 

 

Appeal:

Language: Casual

Pacing: Fast Paced

Tone: Humorous

 

Terms that best describe this book: Romantic, Futuristic, Strong Female Protagonist, Space Colonization, Humorous

 

Similar Authors and Works:

3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors

1. Fisher, C. (2016). The princess diarist. Blue Rider Press.

Goodreads Page: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/26025989

How can someone talk about space princesses without mentioning one of the originals, and arguably the most famous of them all? Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia) wrote this book about her experience in creating the famous Space Opera and Science Fiction movie franchise: Star Wars. This fits the appeal of Strong Women in Science Fiction and humorous.

2. Norton, E. (2010) Margaret Beauford: Mother of the Tudor Dynasty. Amberley Publishing.

Goodreads Page: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/8521781

Norton’s biography of Margaret Beauford tells readers of the struggles of women in monarchical societies, especially women with the combined misfortune and fortune of marrying into royalty. This will interest those who are fascinated by Ada’s title as a Princess of the von Hasenberg house. The subject includes cross-appeal of Strong Female Subject (Protagonist).

3. Roach, M. (2010). Packing for Mars. W.W. Norton & Company.

Goodreads Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9542311-packing-for-mars

Roach’s nonfiction book discusses the potential of space exploration/colonization, which would most likely begin with Mars or Earth’s Moon. Roach tends to have a humorous undercurrent to her books, which might appeal to people who enjoyed Mihalik’s witty banter and jokes. It’s also fun sometimes for science fiction lovers to see what the reality of space travel is and how human bodies would react to it (admittedly, not a lot is known about it).

 

3 Relevant Fiction Works and Authors

1. White, T. A. (2019). The rules of redemption. Independently Published.

Goodreads page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43954881-rules-of-redemption

T. A. White’s Space Opera has the same female-led protagonist with a heavy emphasis on romance, much like Mihalik’s novel. It’s futuristic setting follows the protagonists to alien planets and space stations. There is also the threat of war, only with an alien species that hates humans. The male love interest seems to be more along the line of enemies to lovers, unlike in Polaris Rising (Rivals to Lovers). However, there is often cross appeal between these two sorts of romances.

2. Morgenstern, E. (2011). The night circus. Doubleday.

Goodreads Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9361589-the-night-circus

The setting of Morgenstern’s novel couldn’t possibly be more different, but sometimes readers aren’t as concerned with genre as much as they are appeal. This is another Rivals to Lovers novel; however, it is more along the lines of magical realism.

3. Rather, L. (2019). Sisters of the vast black. Tor.

Goodreads Page: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/44581558

Sisters of the Vast Black is another female led space opera, though it has less of an emphasis on romance, and the romance that it has is LGBT, unlike the previous two. It would be a good read for someone looking for a futuristic space opera, who is not interested in only heterosexual romances and/or is looking for something less campy, while still being science fiction.

 


Descriptions of relevant works are all obtained from information on Goodreads.

Subject Headings: https://libguides.und.edu/c.php?g=889676&p=6397132

Comments

  1. KFebruary 26, 2023 at 9:44 PM

    Hi Katie
    This book sounds really cool and I’m absolutely going to have to add it to my TBR. Though a bit different, I think it has a similar feel to Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell, a book about an arranged marriage between two opposites as they navigate court intrigue, solving a murder, and interplanetary war.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Erin CataldiFebruary 27, 2023 at 12:43 PM

    I love a good space opera! Good job on the summary and appeals. The readalikes all sound great too. Full points!

    ReplyDelete

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