The Spare Man - by Mary Robinette Kowal (Paperback)

About the Book

"Tesla Crane, one of the richest women in the world, is on her honeymoon on an interplanetary space liner, cruising between Earth and Mars. She's traveling incognito and is reveling in her anonymity. Then someone is murdered and her husband is named as the prime suspect. To save him from the frame-up, Tesla will risk exposure and face demons from her past. Even though doing so might make her the next victim"--

Book Synopsis

Hugo, Locus, and Nebula-Award winner Mary Robinette Kowal blends her no-nonsense approach to life in space with her talent for creating glittering high-society in this stylish SF mystery, The Spare Man.

A 2023 Hugo Award Finalist!
A 2022 Locus Magazine Recommended Reading List pick!

Tesla Crane, a brilliant inventor and an heiress, is on her honeymoon on an interplanetary space liner, cruising between the Moon and Mars. She's traveling incognito and is reveling in her anonymity. Then someone is murdered and the festering chowderheads who run security have the audacity to arrest her spouse. Armed with banter, martinis and her small service dog, Tesla is determined to solve the crime so that the newlyweds can get back to canoodling--and keep the real killer from striking again.

Review Quotes

Praise for The Spare Man:

A 2023 Hugo Award Finalist!
A 2022 Locus Magazine Recommended Reading List pick!

"Rarely is science fiction as entertaining and fun as The Spare Man is from start to finish. Mary Robinette Kowal is a modern master of the genre."--John Scalzi, New York Times bestselling author

"Kowal's comedy-of-manners SF mystery is a rollicking case of knowing when to throw decorum out the window in order to get results. Highly recommended for... anyone who loves a good mystery in an out-of-this-world setting."--Library Journal, starred review

"A perfect latter-stages-of-a-pandemic read, The Spare Man is a balm for those who are re-learning how to be in a changed (real) world."--Locus

"Kowal expertly weaves in red herrings and twists right up to the unmasking of the killer, and punctuates the suspense with moments of sparkling wit... this is a page-turner."--Publishers Weekly

"Kowal delivers a fast-paced thrill ride that places a traditional hard-boiled detective story in space... readers of traditional detective stories and science fiction alike will not be disappointed."--Booklist

Praise for The Calculating Stars and the Lady Astronaut series:

"The Calculating Stars is a wonderful, scientifically accurate view of what might have been. Kowal masters both science and historical accuracy in this alternate history adventure."--Andy Weir, author of The Martian

"This is what NASA never had, a heroine with attitude."--The Wall Street Journal

"Readers will thrill to the story of this 'lady astronaut' and eagerly anticipate the promised sequels."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Kowal's book was revelatory for me, because here is a version of history where men eventually, finally, listen to women."--Tor.com

"A fine balance of integrating historical accuracy--including mid-twentieth-century sexism, racism, and technology--with speculative storytelling."--Booklist

"Readers will be hooked."--Library Journal

"These are really outstanding books. They strongly remind me of James A. Michener's Space in style and substance. Fiction tightly intertwined with real history. It feels like Kowal is giving life to the stories of those you actually knew from history books."--Jim Wright, Stonekettle Station

About the Author

Mary Robinette Kowal is the author of the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus Award-winning alternate history novel, The Calculating Stars, the first book in the Lady Astronaut series, which continues with The Martian Contingency. She is also the author of The Glamourist Histories series and Ghost Talkers and has received the Astounding Award for Best New Writer, four Hugo Awards, the Nebula, and Locus Awards. Her stories appear in Asimov's, Uncanny, and several Year's Best anthologies. Mary Robinette has also worked as a professional puppeteer, is a member of the Award-winning podcast Writing Excuses, and performs as a voice actor (SAG/AFTRA), recording fiction for authors including Seanan McGuire, Cory Doctorow, and Neal Stephenson. She lives in Tennessee with her husband Rob and over a dozen manual typewriters.