ARKWRIGHT is a deeply immersive Science Fiction novel from prolific author Allen Steele, spanning practically the entire duration of Science Fiction Writing, Publishing, Reading, and Fandom, touching on its tentative early beginnings in 1939, as seen through the lens of an early 21st century descendant. It also encapsulates a history of Space Science and Space Exploration, examining what could be and why and how, even as we are engrossed in the lives of multiple characters, their very human needs and choices, their foibles and successes.

A very good, character-driven science fiction novel. It is the story of one man's fierce belief that humanity has to continue, and it will have to do so on another planet. Thanks to his wealth and success, he decides to go about achieving this dream privately, skirting governments and bureaucracy. It's a story of grand and epic scope and ambition, and very well told.

Steele's writing and story grabbed me right away, and kept me reading. It's well-written, populated by interesting and engaging characters. Recommended.

Nathan Arkwright was one of the Grandmasters of science fiction. He rubbed shoulders with Heinlein. He was talked about in the same breath as Asimov. And he created the beloved Galaxy Patrol series, which went on to sell lots of books and launch a TV/movie franchise.

And at the beginning of this book, he dies.

He doesn't want his legacy to be the books, though. He wants it to be getting mankind to the stars, so he's created the Arkwright Foundation. This book is about generations of his family following through on that dream of the stars.

It's hard science, but one with characters that often draw you in. The biggest problem with the book is that it's only a few hundred pages long, so we have a short time to spend with the generations working on the spacecraft. And one of these "generational" sections didn't even seem necessary. I wanted him to focus on other aspects of this story, but we just didn't have time. I liked the ending quite a bit, even though he hand-waved away a few questions I (and other characters) had. But overall, this is solid hard science fiction that's a love letter to the genre, and that ultimately has faith in humanity. And that's a rare thing in a science fiction world that often works toward dystopia.