Red Star, Winter Orbit
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| "Red Star, Winter Orbit" | |
| Author | William Gibson |
|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
| Series | Burning Chrome |
| Genre(s) | Science fiction short story |
| Published in | Burning Chrome |
| Publication type | Anthology |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Preceded by | Hinterlands |
| Followed by | New Rose Hotel |
"Red Star, Winter Orbit" is a short story written by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling and published in Gibson's Burning Chrome collection of short fiction. The story is set in an alternate future where the Soviet Union controls most of the Earth's resources, especially oil. As a result of this the United States is no longer a dominant economic power on earth and the Soviets have won the space race.
[edit] Plot summary
The main character is Colonel Korolev, the first cosmonaut on Mars, who is forced to become the caretaker of 'Museum of the Soviet Triumph in Space' on a space station 'Salyut', in his old age. Budget cuts are announced by the Soviet Union leading to a decision to destroy the space station by putting it in a decaying orbit. Although the Union cannot afford the station any more, it plans to save face by blaming the degradation of the station on Korolev. The story follows the steps taken by an ailing Korolev to save his remaining crew, who are to be persecuted by the Soviet regime in the face-saving exercise. The crew use shuttle craft to escape, planning to defect to China, but Korolev stays behind because his body has degraded after 20 years in microgravity, and would not survive on Earth.
The story ends when an American family uses a DIY solar balloon to reach the decaying Salyut as part of a plan to create a new community in space and thus give hope to the last member of Salyut: Colonel Korolev.
[edit] External links
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