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Grand Tour (novel Series)
The Grand Tour is a series of novels written by American science fiction author Ben Bova. The novels present a theme of exploration and colonization of the Solar System by humans in the late 21st century. Most of the books focus on the exploration of one particular planet or natural satellite, planetary moon. Several recurring themes are presented throughout the series. In particular, most of the Solar System bodies whose exploration is the focus of a particular novel are presented as having extraterrestrial life, life, either past or present. Many of the expeditions which explore the planets run into serious difficulty. The protagonists of most of these books are presented as initially weak and/or lacking in ability or confidence, and as part of surviving the trials of the story become heroic. The future humanity as depicted in the ''Grand Tour'' novel series is divided between ''Greens'' (environmentalism, environmentalists) and wealthy business magnate, industrialists, as well ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Novel
A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itself from the la, novella, a singular noun use of the neuter plural of ''novellus'', diminutive of ''novus'', meaning "new". Some novelists, including Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, Ann Radcliffe, John Cowper Powys, preferred the term "romance" to describe their novels. According to Margaret Doody, the novel has "a continuous and comprehensive history of about two thousand years", with its origins in the Ancient Greek and Roman novel, in Chivalric romance, and in the tradition of the Italian renaissance novella.Margaret Anne Doody''The True Story of the Novel'' New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1996, rept. 1997, p. 1. Retrieved 25 April 2014. The ancient romance form was revived by Romanticism, especially the histori ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Valles Marineris
Valles Marineris (; Latin for ''Mariner program, Mariner Valleys'', named after the ''Mariner 9'' Mars orbiter of 1971–72 which discovered it) is a system of canyons that runs along the Mars, Martian surface east of the Tharsis region. At more than long, wide and up to deep, Valles Marineris is one of the largest List of largest rifts and valleys in the Solar System, canyons of the Solar System, surpassed in length only by the rift valleys of the mid-ocean ridge system of Earth. Valles Marineris is located along the equator of Mars, on the east side of the Tharsis Bulge, and stretches for nearly a quarter of the planet's circumference. The canyon system starts in the west with Noctis Labyrinthus; proceeding to the east are Tithonium Chasma, Tithonium and Ius Chasma, Ius chasmata, then Melas Chasma, Melas, Candor Chasma, Candor and Ophir Chasma, Ophir chasmata, then Coprates Chasma, then Ganges Chasma, Ganges, Capri Chasma, Capri and Eos Chasma, Eos chasmata; finally it emptie ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Asteroid Mining
Asteroid mining is the hypothetical exploitation of materials from asteroids and other minor planets, including near-Earth objects. Notable asteroid mining challenges include the high cost of spaceflight, unreliable identification of asteroids which are suitable for mining, and the challenges of extracting usable material in a space environment. Asteroid sample return research missions (see completed missions ''Hayabusa'' and '' Hayabusa2'' and in-progress ''OSIRIS-REx'') illustrate the challenges of collecting ore from space using current technology. As of 2021, less than 1 gram of asteroid material has been successfully returned to Earth from space. In progress missions promise to increase this amount to approximately 60 grams (two ounces). Asteroid research missions are complex endeavors and return a tiny amount of material (less than 1 milligram ''Hayabusa'', 100 milligrams ''Hayabusa2'', 60 grams planned ''OSIRIS-REx'') relative to the size and expense of these projects ($3 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Powersat
Space-based solar power (SBSP, SSP) is the concept of collecting solar power in outer space by solar power satellites (SPS) and distributing it to Earth. Its advantages include a higher collection of energy due to the lack of reflection and absorption by the atmosphere, the possibility of no (or very little) night, and a better ability to orient to face the sun. Space-based solar power systems convert sunlight to some other form of energy (such as microwaves) which can be transmitted through the atmosphere to receivers on the Earth's surface. It is attractive to those seeking large-scale solutions to anthropogenic climate change or fossil fuel depletion (such as peak oil). Various SBSP proposals have been researched since the early 1970s, but none is economically viable with present-day space launch costs. Some technologists speculate that this may change in the distant future with space manufacturing from asteroids or lunar material, or with radical new space launch techno ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Titan (Ben Bova)
Titan most often refers to: * Titan (moon), the largest moon of Saturn * Titans, a race of deities in Greek mythology Titan or Titans may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Fictional entities Fictional locations * Titan in fiction, fictionalized depictions of the moon of Saturn * Titan (Marvel Comics location), a moon ** Titan (Marvel Cinematic Universe), its Marvel Cinematic Universe counterpart * Titan, a moon in the list of locations of the DC Universe * Titan, a ''Fighting Fantasy'' gamebooks world Fictional characters * Titan (Dark Horse Comics), a superhero * Titan (Imperial Guard), a Marvel Comics superhero * Titan (New Gods), from DC Comics' ''Darkseid's Elite'' * Titan, in the Infershia Pantheon * Titan, in ''Megamind'' * Titan, in ''Sym-Bionic Titan'' * King Titan, on ''Stingray'' (1964 TV series) Fictional species and groups * Titan (''Dune'') * Titan (''Dungeons & Dragons'') * Teen Titans, a DC superhero team * Titan Legions, units in the tabletop game ''Epi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mercury (2005 Novel)
''Mercury'' is a 2005 science fiction novel by American writer Ben Bova. The story chronicles the chain of events which leads Mance Bracknell, a shy but gifted engineering student, from the pinnacle of success to the depths of misery and vengeance. The book is part of the Grand Tour (novel series) Plot summary Mance was the chief visionary and engineer behind the skytower, a super space elevator which ran from Ecuador all the way into low Earth orbit. When religious fundamentalists and agents of the scheming Yamagata Corporation sabotage the skytower, however, millions are killed; Mance is faced with his own guilt for the tragedy and sees himself as ostensibly responsible. He is arrested and put on trial. Things turn out even worse for Mance when his friends, bioengineer Victor Molina and Rev. Elliott Danvers, abandon him, and he is exiled to a life of hard work and misery in the Asteroid Belt, far from his beloved wife Lara—upon whom the double-crossing Victor Molina had alway ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Venus (novel)
''Venus'' is a science fiction novel by American writer Ben Bova, part of the Grand Tour The Grand Tour was the principally 17th- to early 19th-century custom of a traditional trip through Europe, with Italy as a key destination, undertaken by upper-class young European men of sufficient means and rank (typically accompanied by a tuto ... novel series and first published in the year 2000. The story follows Van Humphries, the son of the ruthless tycoon Martin Humphries, and his experiences on Venus. Plot summary Martin Humphries is the head of the giant Humphries Space Systems and at his 100th birthday party announces a prize of ten billion dollars to anyone who can recover any remains of his eldest son Alex. Alex was killed two years previously on a mission to Venus. Van Humphries, Martin's son and younger brother to Alex takes up the challenge despite, and because of, a mutual dislike between son and father. Van assembles a ship and crew and heads off to Venus, shadowed by ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mars Life
''Mars Life'' is a science fiction novel by Ben Bova. This novel is part of the Grand Tour series of novels. It was first published in 2008 File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; ... and is a sequel to Ben Bova's novel '' Return to Mars''. Plot summary Jamie Waterman is back as Director of the Mars Program; along with his wife Vijay, the beautiful Indian-Aussie, and Dex Trumball, the Director of the Board in charge of Mars financing. The death of his son bring Waterman and his wife back to Earth, and puts them both in a slump. Over the years, the New Morality has slowly been taking over the American government, and gaining power; the NM restricts and censors anything that is a threat to them, and hide behind religion. One of their biggest concerns is the Mars program, which ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Campbell Award (best Novel)
The John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel, or Campbell Memorial Award, is an annual award presented by the Center for the Study of Science Fiction at the University of Kansas to the author of the best science fiction novel published in English in the preceding calendar year. It is the novel counterpart of the Theodore Sturgeon Award for best short story, awarded at the same conference by the Theodore Sturgeon Literary Trust. The award is named in honor of John W. Campbell (1910–71), whose science fiction writing and role as editor of ''Analog Science Fiction and Fact'' made him one of the most influential editors in the early history of science fiction. The award was established in 1973 by writers and critics Harry Harrison and Brian Aldiss "as a way of continuing his efforts to encourage writers to produce their best possible work." ''Locus'' magazine has listed it as one of the "major awards" of written science fiction. The winning novel is selecte ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Titan (2006 Novel)
''Titan'' is a science fiction novel written by Ben Bova as part of the Grand Tour (novel series), Grand Tour novel series. It directly follows the novel ''Saturn'', in which the space habitat Goddard has finished its two-year journey from Earth, and has settled into the orbit of Saturn. The book won the 2007 John W. Campbell Memorial Award. It was first published in February 2001, by Hodder & Stoughton in the UK and later by Tor Books in the US. Plot The ten thousand civilians of the space habitat Goddard have now finally begun their lives in the Saturn system, after an exhausting two-year journey that almost plunged the infant colony into an authoritarian regime. As the probe "Titan Alpha" lands on the moon's surface, a number of strange electrical problems begin happening aboard the space habitat. Characters *Holly Lane - Director of Human Resources aboard the Goddard. Her sister, Pancho Lane, had cryo-frozen her for a couple of decades, starting in her late teens, until a cu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jupiter (novel)
''Jupiter'' is a science fiction novel by American writer Ben Bova. This novel is part of the Grand Tour series of novels. It was first published in 2000. Plot synopsis Grant Archer, a young astrophysicist and recently married man dreams of exploring collapsing stars, in hope that one day he would be able to find a way in creating wormholes, to create instantaneous transportation. However, upon graduating he finds out that he must go to Jupiter on a four-year public service, enforced by the ultraconservative religious organization the "New Morality". His orders are to spy on the scientists of the space station "Gold"; where it is believed, and feared that they have found new living species living in a liquid ocean, deep below Jupiter's clouds. As Archer's anger and frustration wears off, he soon finds himself befriending the crew, and drawn to the station's super-secret project; a select few wearing bioimplants in their legs, and a mysterious spacecraft attached to the space sta ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Farside (novel)
''The Far Side'' is a single-panel comic created by Gary Larson and syndicated by Chronicle Features and then Universal Press Syndicate, which ran from December 31, 1979, to January 1, 1995 (when Larson retired as a cartoonist). Its surrealistic humor is often based on uncomfortable social situations, improbable events, an anthropomorphic view of the world, logical fallacies, impending bizarre disasters, (often twisted) references to proverbs, or the search for meaning in life. Larson's frequent use of animals and nature in the comic is popularly attributed to his background in biology. ''The Far Side'' was ultimately carried by more than 1,900 daily newspapers, translated into 17 languages, and collected into calendars, greeting cards, and 23 compilation books, and reruns are still carried in many newspapers. After a 25-year hiatus, in July 2020 Larson began drawing new ''Far Side'' strips offered through the comic's official website. Larson was recognized for his work on t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
