This short story is part of the “A Point in Time” collection and my third read from the series. To be honest, I didn’t enjoy it.

“Alan is able to imagine every way critical equipment might break during the launch and landing of Apollo 11. But his experience in preventing cosmic disasters does nothing to prepare him for the pressures of a hasty marriage to a woman he barely knows—or the strain of keeping up appearances amid the shifting social attitudes of the late ’60s. When a crisis at home forces Alan back to earth, he’s faced with a choice he doesn’t know how to make: whether to let go or move forward.”

Blurb

On paper, this could have been a moving love story enriched with historical detail. Instead, it felt like a plain account of a fairly ordinary life, without much depth, insight, or emotional impact. The theme of choosing between career and marriage is certainly universal, but the way it was told didn’t add anything fresh or memorable.

For me, the story never managed to rise above the familiar, and by the end I was left indifferent. Since none of the stories in this collection worked for me, this will be my last stop with “A Point in Time.” I can’t recommend this story—or the series as a whole.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️