Space Shuttle Crew Compartment Trainer (C.C.T.)

 Fun, exciting, heartfelt, and inspiring, this larger-than-life story of one young man's lifelong passion and pursuit of a place in NASA's history books is almost too incredible to be true -- except that it is true, and that makes it all the more compelling. The premise is relatively simple, but it taps into our most basic and universal ideals of courage, perseverance, ambition, and the refusal to accept limitations on the human spirit. Chuck's journey as he fights to prove himself worthy of his NASA dreams is something nearly everyone can relate to, and the plot inspires us all to pursue our loftiest dreams -- even with the ambiguous ending that the Resolution's story comes to. It reminds us that it's the pursuit of greatness that matters -- and that kind of message is sorely needed right now. Chuck is a compelling protagonist -- driven, likable, and sympathetic, but still with enough flaws and contradictions to make him human and interesting, and to give him room to grow and arc. The writer's passion for the story, world, and subject matter is apparent from the first page; it's infectious to the audience. And the rich detail and specificity brings the setting to life as a character all its own. All in all, it's a fascinating, energetic story, and a solid effort by the writer.