Author upholds tradition
of modern sci-fi writers
“The Sails of Tau Ceti”
Michael McCollum
Del Rey Books
By Sam Kepfield
Staff Reporter
In his eighth book, Michael
McCollum continues the hard sci
fi tradition pioneered by Robert A.
Heinlein and carried on by other
contemporaries such as David Brin
and Greg Benford.
In the 23rd century, humans have
colonized the moon, Mars and the
moons of Jupiter and Saturn. Final
preparations for the launch of the
Starhopper, cAir first interplanetary,
manned mission, are under way.
Suddenly, long-range telescopes
pick up a spacecraft headed toward
Earth from nearby Tau Ceti. The
Starhopper is diverted to intercept
the ship, powered by a light sail and
apparently deserted.
However, when the four human
travelers approach the ship, they
are hailed by alien beings — in
perfect English. The Phelan have
been fleeing their dead sun for cen
turies, and the 100,000refugees are
seeking a new home — Earth.
To that end, they have studied
Earth’s culture, languages and even
humor extensively in order to
readily assimilate. They know us
well — almost too well.
They ask Tory Bronson,
Starhopper’s chief engineer, to be
their “advocate” in making their
case to Earth for resettlement. And
when she accepts, she learns the
Phelan are not what they appear to
be.
There are not three ships, but
more than 20,000 loaded with 3
billion Phelan and they’re all headed
toward Earth. They demand a por
tion of Earth’s surface for settle
ment. If not, they will move on to
the next star and power their light
sails by blowing up the sun.
Bronson is caught in an impos
sible situation and faces being cal led
a traitor no matter what she does.
She races to find a solution that will
save humanity and allow the Phelan
to survive.
McCollum mixes hard science
with a believable, fast-moving plot
and some memorable scenery (such
as a restaurant on top of a tower on
Mars’ Olympus Mons) and does it
in less than 300 pages.
“The Sails of f au Ccti” is a first
contact, space talc well done.
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3 Bicycles For Sale
53cm white Bianchi, Italiam frame, campy equipped. 4
tiree (Continental & Kevlar) $350 firm. 476-6838 mes
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20 Vehicles For Sale
1991 Geo Metro convertible, red, AM/FM tape. 14,000
miles, great school car. Price negotiable. 466-5292,464
1574, _
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speed. Loaded. $5250 offers. Baer's Auto Sales. 1647S.
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100 Rides
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105 Career Events
ss^=^^=ss=s=
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110 Announcements
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