As a child, now retired physician Tess Gerritsen dreamed of becoming an author of Nancy Drew novels. A dream of writing mystery suspense novels that was put on hold until while on maternity leave in the 1980s, when she rekindled her childhood passion for writing and was soon publishing and receiving accolades from the writing community for her command of the thriller genre. Named as an author “even better than Michael Crichton” by Stephen King, Gerritsen’s evocative novels span from romantic suspense, to crime reads, to medical thrillers influenced by her time working as a doctor. Today’s Book Club Spotlight, Gravity, is Gerritsen’s 1999 claustrophobic novel following a severe illness outbreak on the newly minted ISS.
Inside the International Space Station live some of Earth’s greatest minds, conducting scientific experiments in the zero-gravity chamber whose close quarters are the only thing separating them from the dark and unforgiving expanse of open space. Some 250 miles below, teams of engineers, scientists, and physicians work round the clock to ensure the safety and success of the astronauts. But when emotions run high a fatal mistake is made, plunging the entire ISS into a biological warzone. Aboard the dying station, Dr. Watson is fighting a losing battle against the unknown infectant that is brutally claiming the lives of her crewmates and their would-be rescuers with no hope of escape. With few supplies and a shadowy organization trying to hide the evidence, NASA faces an unprecedented scenario. Either they lose the entire space station with its remaining crew on board, or risk infecting the entire world.
“It was a phrase many of them had uttered over the last few weeks. I’ve never dealt with this before. This is new. This is something we’ve never seen. Yet wasn’t that the essence of exploration? That no crisis could be predicted, that every new problem required its own solution. That every triumph was built on sacrifice.“
Tess Gerritsen
Perfect for fans of suspense, space, and novels with limited casts, Gravity is an intense medical thriller that keeps the reader guessing as they work out the mystery alongside the characters. Despite its more fantastical elements, Gerritsen’s commitment to accuracy creates a rich world inside NASA and the medical field. And that attention to detail does not stop when coming to the more gruesome aspects of the novel. Stephen King’s endorsement isn’t to be taken lightly here! In July, we covered The Lion of Mars, a kid-friendly introduction to life in space with thrilling elements. And while both books handle an unknown outbreak of illness in space, Gravity, is for adult fans of the genre.
Through its almost 30 years in orbit, and since the publication of this book, the ISS has added more modules, labs, and hubs to fit the growing needs. Luckily, to read Gravity, you don’t need to be an expert in the schematics of the ISS, but if you want to get a good idea of what the characters are dealing with, here are some resources:
Zarya and Unity, the first two modules of the ISS (May, 2000)
ISS Infographic and Map (November, 2012)
“Tour the International Space Station: 25 Years of Humans in Space” (December, 2025)
- Find more to read by Tess Gerritsen in our Book Club Kit Collection!
If you’re interested in requesting Gravity for your book club, you can find the Request Form here. There are 21 copies. (A librarian must request items)
Gerritsen, Tess. Gravity. Pocket Books. 1999
