Clipped jacket but in good condition. Large heavy volume.
The Throne of Saturn by Allen Drury is a political science fiction novel, published in 1971. Known for his Pulitzer-winning Advise and Consent series, Drury takes a unique turn in this work, merging his keen insights into political intrigue with a speculative look at space exploration during the Cold War era.
In The Throne of Saturn, Drury imagines an intense, politically charged race to Mars. The story explores the complex relationships between politicians, scientists, and astronauts in a fictional yet eerily plausible scenario where the United States and the Soviet Union vie for dominance in space. The mission to Mars is designed not only as a scientific endeavor but as a high-stakes power play, with each side aiming to prove its technological superiority. However, ideological conflicts and personal motivations shape the journey, revealing deep tensions that threaten to derail the mission.
Drury dives into character-driven plots, focusing on the personalities of the astronauts, their internal conflicts, and their political and personal loyalties. Through this lens, he explores themes such as ambition, betrayal, and the ethical dilemmas associated with space exploration.
The Throne of Saturn is often noted for its pessimistic tone and for challenging the optimistic view of space travel that characterized the space race of the 1960s. It suggests that, rather than unifying humanity, the journey to space might exacerbate the divisions between nations and individuals.
