This delightful work is a compilation of stories that the author emailed to her daughter (Astronaut Sunita L. Williams) when Suni was assigned to the International Space Station (ISS). While her daughter was in space, Pandya cared for Suni's dog, Gorby. The tales reveal the thoughts and actions of canine friends Gorby, Coal, and Elsie and the cat, Thomas, as interpreted in broad strokes by the author. The family is able to connect with Suni when the ISS is overhead. She shares with them some of her experiences, and Suni is able to be virtually present with her loved ones.
The stories manifest love, humor, perception, and even some heart-wrenching moments. For example, Gorby is terrified and suffers nightmares in Russia when a cosmonaut points out a statue of the first Soviet dog who went into space and died seven hours later. However, Gorby recovers in Pandya’s story when he and Suni get home. So complete is his recovery that he becomes enamored with going into space himself.
The author effectively weaves together the traditional emotions and values of commitment, family cohesiveness, loyalty, and love that conquer loneliness and fear with the modern situations of space travel, electronic communication, and virtual presence in her book. As the mother of a female astronaut, Pandya has some rare experiences to document, and she does so successfully. And despite the unusual situation that gave birth to the tales, Pandya's experiences as a human mother and pet parent are shared by many, making her stories highly relatable. Unique and enjoyable, the author’s book should appeal to a wide audience.