Trials, Tribulations, And Triumphs, Steeped In STEM — Back To Space Camp In ‘Absolute Zeros’
by Brendan M. Allen
When you mention Space Camp, loads of folks my generation will immediately think of a goofy comedy film from 1986. Joaquin Phoenix and some other kids are off at a Space Camp, when their pet robot sends them all into space by hijacking the controls of a shuttle they’re supposed to be testing.
It goes about as well as you might expect, but the kids have a good time as they are inexplicably able to navigate a bunch of fatal system failures. Space Camp is fun. Space Camp is cool. And if you befriend a NASA robot at Space Camp, that friendly robot might defy all logic and programming to kidnap you and launch you into space.
Absolute Zeros, coming March 5 from Little, Brown Ink, captures that vibe, along with the ‘nuts and bolts’ of problem solving, basic science concepts, and lots of math. Writers Michael Tanner and Greg Smith and artist Gabrielle Gomez bring a thrilling and moving tale of trials, tribulations, and triumphs, steeped in STEM and the eternal call to reach for the stars.
The story takes place at Camp Launchpad, a down-at-heel space camp decades past its glory days, with a swampy pool (including an alligator maybe?), no fancy equipment, and a bunch of “fun-tivities” that seem kind of extremely boring.
But the instructors know exactly what they’re doing: they’re teaching the fundamentals of split second decision-making, unexpected workarounds, and creative use of limited resources. After all, you won’t always have the best tools at your disposal and as one is fond of reminding them, “Space is always trying to kill you.”
These lessons are about to come in handy! A snazzy, well-funded rival camp has made the director an offer he can’t refuse: if the Launchpadders – specifically our team of main characters called “A-0” – can manage to win an upcoming multi-camp competition, they’ll get a $10M donation, but if they lose, Camp Launchpad will be closed for good.
When reading the solicit for Absolute Zeros, it sounds like Space Camp mashed with just about every other 80s Summer camp movie, which makes me wonder who will enjoy it more, me, the grown 80s kid, or my youngest child, the 8 year old who has declared their intent to become an astronaut themselves.
The 212 page paperback will retail for $12.99.
