Dispatches from Planet 3

Thirty-Two (Brief) Tales on the Solar System, the Milky Way, and Beyond

By: Marcia Bartusiak

Narrated by: Gabra Zackman

The galaxy, the multiverse, and the history of astronomy are explored in this engaging compilation of cosmological "tales" by multiple award-winning science writer Marcia Bartusiak. In 32 concise and engrossing essays, the author provides a deeper understanding of the nature of the universe and those who strive to uncover its mysteries.

Bartusiak shares the back stories for many momentous astronomical discoveries, including the contributions of such pioneers as Beatrice Tinsley and her groundbreaking research in galactic evolution, and Jocelyn Bell Burnell, the scientist who first discovered radio pulsars. An endlessly fascinating collection that you can dip into in any order, these pieces will transport you to ancient Mars, when water flowed freely across its surface; to the collision of two black holes, a cosmological event that released fifty times more energy than was radiating from every star in the universe; and to the beginning of time itself.

©2018 Marcia Bartusiak (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Solid snippets on space

I found this pleasant throughout but often found myself wishing for more depth, if even an extra 10 minutes on a given topic. The book is most successful where a lot of background isn't necessary, like when describing science history on scientists who were not given their proper due for discoveries.

Interested Contents

It is worthy to listening despite the gross "sounds." It is distracting and annoying how the narrator or the narrator's recording system switches every few minutes in between a nice voice to a "forced voice tone" as if she suffers a struggling constipation.

Lots of quick bites make for a decent plateful

This is a series of good, tight essays on cosmology, with an emphasis on the history and people involved in making the discoveries of the past century or two. The author is a science communicator and it shows. She gets the stories across and maintains the reader's interest. Also she doesn't neglect the women involved (and there were plenty, mostly having to fight for a seat at the telescope, literally). This is the perfect read when you need shorter, self-contained pieces.

Easily Digestible

The brief chapters presented complex matters in a clear and understandable format. Good emphasis on the critical scientists as much as the science.

Great for basic knowledge and history

If you have no idea who wrote the equation for gravity then this book is for you. I thought since the book is a new release I would learn some of the latest concepts coming out of the physics world, but i didn’t hear anything i haven’t heard before. I was completely disappointed. So it may be enlightening for some who are starting with the basics, but if you know who Steven Weinberg is you defiantly won’t learn anything from this book. The presentation/entertainment value is slightly above average, but the author seems to be hung up on women’s discoveries, which i personally don’t put much stock into someones gender for making a discovery, i give them kudo’s for their intellect and insights, no matter who they are. I feel i waisted a credit, but i’ve heard all if her information many times before,