Ben Bova has written another exciting story that is loaded with action and adventure. This time, he takes the reader to Titan, the largest of Saturn's moons.
This is an exciting book to read. Ben Bova writes with a very readable style that draws the reader immediately in to the story. His knowledge of science is apparent, and he always devotes a chapter in his books to actual scientific information about the item he is writing about. I recommend this book very highly. The story is excellent and the characters are well-developed, and the reader can instantly identify with them. Read this exciting installment in Bova's grand tour of the solar system; Bova fans won't be disappointed.
Please note that this section has plot spoils:
After months of travel, the colony ship Goddard is finally in orbit around Saturn. This habitat is loaded with 10,000 dissidents, rebels, scientists, and visionaries who were exiled from Earth for one reason or another. Aboard the ship is Eduoard Urbain, a scientist. More importantly, Urbain is in control of Titan Alpha, a probe which has been placed on the surface of Titan to gather data. However, once on the surface, the probe stops transmitting data to Goddard. Although data is being collected, the probe has stopped transmitting. It is as good as dead. Now, Urbain faces the dilemma of fixing the unresponsive probe.
Meanwhile, Malcolm Eberly, the habitat's chief administrator, is facing re-election. He has been in power for only a year, but he now faces a stiff challenge for re-election from Holly Lane, Eberly's former head of human resources. The main point of contention is the habitat's policy of zero growth. Eberly maintains that, unless the rings of Saturn are mined for their water molecules, the habitat has no room for expansion. Holly, on the other hand, disputes this point, saying that the habitat has room for many more people (namely, children). She begins a petition drive to have the ZPG amendment removed. From the start of the election, it appears that Eberly will win easily. He even promises to remove the ZPG amendment once the mining of the rings begins. However, scientists have discovered what they think are living organisms in the rings. If this is true, the rings cannot be mined for their water. Eberly is determined to mine the rings regardless, but Holly comes up with another plan which really shakes up the election.
Back on Titan, the scientists are having little luck re-starting Titan Alpha. The only way to get the probe moving again is for someone to go to the surface and fix it manually. Manny Gaeta, a former stuntman, has volunteered to fix Titan Alpha. He also ventured into Saturn's rings to discover the bugs (later found to be nanomachines placed by some alien civilization). Once on the surface of Titan, Manny gets more than he bargained for from the probe. It appears that, while on the surface, the probe has begun learning on its own, and the probe is convinced that any contact from humans will result in contamination. Now, Manny has the task of trying to fix the probe, while the probe sees Manny as a threat and, to make things worse, the probe has its laser pointed directly at Manny.
This is an exciting book to read. Ben Bova writes with a very readable style that draws the reader immediately in to the story. His knowledge of science is apparent, and he always devotes a chapter in his books to actual scientific information about the item he is writing about. I recommend this book very highly. The story is excellent and the characters are well-developed, and the reader can instantly identify with them. Read this exciting installment in Bova's grand tour of the solar system; Bova fans won't be disappointed.
Please note that this section has plot spoils:
After months of travel, the colony ship Goddard is finally in orbit around Saturn. This habitat is loaded with 10,000 dissidents, rebels, scientists, and visionaries who were exiled from Earth for one reason or another. Aboard the ship is Eduoard Urbain, a scientist. More importantly, Urbain is in control of Titan Alpha, a probe which has been placed on the surface of Titan to gather data. However, once on the surface, the probe stops transmitting data to Goddard. Although data is being collected, the probe has stopped transmitting. It is as good as dead. Now, Urbain faces the dilemma of fixing the unresponsive probe.
Meanwhile, Malcolm Eberly, the habitat's chief administrator, is facing re-election. He has been in power for only a year, but he now faces a stiff challenge for re-election from Holly Lane, Eberly's former head of human resources. The main point of contention is the habitat's policy of zero growth. Eberly maintains that, unless the rings of Saturn are mined for their water molecules, the habitat has no room for expansion. Holly, on the other hand, disputes this point, saying that the habitat has room for many more people (namely, children). She begins a petition drive to have the ZPG amendment removed. From the start of the election, it appears that Eberly will win easily. He even promises to remove the ZPG amendment once the mining of the rings begins. However, scientists have discovered what they think are living organisms in the rings. If this is true, the rings cannot be mined for their water. Eberly is determined to mine the rings regardless, but Holly comes up with another plan which really shakes up the election.
Back on Titan, the scientists are having little luck re-starting Titan Alpha. The only way to get the probe moving again is for someone to go to the surface and fix it manually. Manny Gaeta, a former stuntman, has volunteered to fix Titan Alpha. He also ventured into Saturn's rings to discover the bugs (later found to be nanomachines placed by some alien civilization). Once on the surface of Titan, Manny gets more than he bargained for from the probe. It appears that, while on the surface, the probe has begun learning on its own, and the probe is convinced that any contact from humans will result in contamination. Now, Manny has the task of trying to fix the probe, while the probe sees Manny as a threat and, to make things worse, the probe has its laser pointed directly at Manny.
