Published : 1970Pages : 190
Overall Mark : 7/10
During her epic voyage to a planet thirty light-years away, the deceleration system of the Leonora Christine is irreparably damaged. Unable to slow down, she attains light speed, tau zero itself, and the disparity between time for those on board and external time becomes impossibly great. Eons and galaxies hurtle by in the blink of an eye as the crew speeds helpless and alone into the unknown...
POUL ANDERSON (1926-2001)
Born in Pennsylvania of Scandinavian parents, Poul Anderson lived for a short time in Denmark. He started publishing science fiction in 1947 and became one of the great figures in the genre, serving as President of the Science Fiction Writers of America, winning many Hugo and Nebula awards, and also winning the Gandalf (Grand Master) Award.
VERDICT
An intriguing idea filled with nice character studies - the crew of a colony ship are trapped travelling at tau zero with no means of stopping - is interspersed with scientific jargon to explain away any issues we might have with the plot. A sometimes difficult read that for some may prove also to be a rewarding one.
