Okay I know we’re all horrified at the fact that Grace was drugged & sent to space against his will but I’m going to be honest. I think Stratt was right??
It was incredibly selfish of Grace to refuse. Yes, consent is important, and not wanting to die is a basic human need, but he was the best option. It was what, nine days to launch? Two weeks, maximum? That’s not enough time for someone to become an expert in Astrophage, and Grace was probably the only expert!!!
Stratt was weighing and mitigating every single risk. The risk of putting people in a coma vs keeping them awake, the risk of designing zero gravity technology vs creating gravity, the risk of throwing the planet into global warming to buy some time. She is not going to gamble the fate of the planet on a stranger!!
In the book, Stratt does not tell Grace he “doesn’t even have a dog.” She doesn’t imply your life is worthless because you aren’t married with kids. No, she says “you are a coward.” She says do not lie to me and say it’s about the kids, if you cared about those kids you would get on that ship.
I love Grace. I love Grace dearly. But I think because he is the main character and everyone’s tragic blorbo we villainize Stratt far too much.
Yes, one woman should not be able to decide the fate of one man.
But one man should not be able to decide the fate of the entire world.