News – The Apollo Man - first book in the science-fiction trilogy Ad Astra

 

The Apollo Man - first book in the science-fiction trilogy Ad Astra

Curiosity and wanderlust take us further and further out in space, and unmanned space probes have explored most of the major objects in the Solar System. But when do we make the step to the stars? And how will this journey turn out for the participants and for those back home?

 

by Anne Mette Sannes og Knut Jørgen Røed Ødegaard

The Apollo Man - first book in the science-fiction trilogy Ad Astra
Illustration/photo: ESA, NASA, Don Davis

This question has fascinated us for a long time, and in 2011 we participated at the worlds first starship conference in Orlando, USA – the very start of a future expedition to another solar system. Prominent persons from NASA, SETI, DARPA and Icarus participated

The year is 2222. Aristotle, a giant starship built at the space station W-Binah, is heading for very first interstellar journey - a journey with a duration of twenty-three years to our neighbouring star, Proxima Centauri. Steve Bloomfield, a fourteen year old student from Boulder, USA, leaves his girlfriend, Michelle because his mother has been given the mission to be the captain of the spaceship. They promise each other to wait, but on board is also Aurora, a Norwegian girl who he already knows from a trip to the space station W-Hokmah the year before.

Inside the «wheel» of Aristotle – the first interstellar spaceship.
Illustration: Don Davis / NASA

On the journey through the Solar system, the students visit the moons Io, Europa, Titan and the icy Pluto. But after several technical problems, Steve, Aurora, and the Russian boy, Boris, begin to suspect a man sitting out at night watching old Apollo recordings. Who is he and what is the red light in his neck?

While Professor Starcluster teaches his students about planets, asteroids, comets and Kuiper belt objects, Aristotle is hurtling towards the heliopause – the invisible boarder of our Solar system. At the same time, on a deserted place outside an arctic city, an astronaut is lying in bed looking up in the ceiling were the northern lights are sending fluttering shadows well into the wee hours. Why is he here? Should'nt he have been somewhere else?

Future city
Illustration: CG4TV

This trilogy is a white-knuckle thriller, aiming to give a realistic picture of a future expedition to our nearest star by following young teenagers emotional challenges and also to give the reader a unique knowledge about astronomy and phenomena in space.

The book is illustrated by the well known space artist and animator, Don Davis.

The book will be translated to English within about three months. It can be preordered by sending a mail to amsannes@gmail.com. NB! Please use the subject “The Apollo Man”!

The view towards Saturn from a lake on Titan.
Illustration: Marc Lafferre

The book will be translated to English within about three months. It can be preordered by sending a mail to amsannes@gmail.com. NB! Please use the subject “The Apollo Man”!

 

 

 

PRESS CONTACTS:

Anne Mette Sannes
Author and meteorite hunter

Phone: +47 97 03 80 50
Email: amsannes@gmail.com

 

Knut Jørgen Røed Ødegaard
Astronomer

Phone: +47 992 77 172
Email: knutjo@astro.uio.no

 

Created June 4, 2012, updated June 4, 2012 by Knut Jørgen Røed Ødegaard
Adress: knutjo@astro.uio.no