The Sunborn
Gregory Benford
(Reviewer - D. H. BROWN)
2005 Aspect Books
ISBN: 0446530581

Personality clashes threaten the missions of two space ships as the crews explore the remotest reaches of our solar system.

With their historic mission to Mars & their discovery of alien life made Julia & Viktor the most famous astronauts of all time. Now, decades later, this fame is coveted by arrogant, brilliant, & young Captain Shanna Axelrod, the leader of a new scientific voyage to the solar system's outermost world.

In this strange territory of space, the crew of the starship Proserpina finds deadly raging cosmic storms that threaten the inner planets. Pluto's orbit & axial tilt are constantly changing, &on the frozen ammonia shore of a methane sea, they discover intelligent creatures thriving in the planet's -300° temperatures, which are under attack, by something from beyond the known worlds.

The powerful Consortium that controls space travel & sees the potential for incredible discoveries…& greater profit, orders Julia & Viktor to take their prototype ship, High Flyer, & rendezvous with Proserpina. But Shanna, Julia, Viktor, & their crews soon encounter problems of the human kind that lead to an uneasy rivalry.

As their mission findings change from the amazing to the inconceivable, the members of the two teams must overcome their own conflicts & work together. For here in the most remote reaches of the solar system, space is filled with unimaginable wonders. & out in the dark, cold void are countless forces that will crush them.

Sr. Staff Reviewer D. H. BROWN writes:
There are some authors, when I am presented their books to review, that make me feel absolutely inadequate as a reviewer. Their work leaves me speechless, making it difficult to put into words the affect said book had on my imagination. Gregory Benford is one such author. Having said that, I will attempt to describe The Sunborn.

WOW!!!!!!!

Hard science fiction has to be plausible to grab me & transport my thought processes into the author's brave new world. Gregory Benford started doing that with The Martian Race, & after a suitable period of time he published The Sunborn, which tugged on my mental strings never to be released, until page 328.

WOW!!!!!

I'm an individual who watches current events quite closely. I like to be informed, & become very irritated (to my wife's distress) & scream at the tv & the news pundits compiling virtual volumes of verbiage re: this or that other infamous trial, & barely a sentence burbles forth re: the amazing feat of two little Rovers scuttling their way around Mars, giving us eyes & ears to look & see, poke & prod into the corners of an alien landscape.

The Sunborn takes us way beyond the ruddy terrain of Mars to the fringes of our knowledge & solar system. Good hard science fiction not only must be plausible, it must also open our minds to new concepts & possibilities. & as Gregory Benford so ably & simply says: “There was more to come. There always would be.”

My personal recommendation for The Sunborn, is that the reader buy it & a copy of The Martian Race at the same time. Read them from start to finish, & then wait while this Master of the genre, pens the next chapter.

Read & enjoy this masterpiece! It definitely has a permanent place in my library. Thanks, Brian, I did enjoy!

More from Gregory Benford:
Beyond Infinity
Timescape
Across the Sea of Suns
Far Futures
Worlds Vast and Various
Eater & many more.
(04/24/05)

D. H. BROWN
A RebeccasReads.Com Sr. Staff Reviewer

Reviewer's Bio:
D. H. BROWN is the author of the critically acclaimed HONOR DUE and the Citizens Warrior Series. The son of missionary parents and with the help his Uncle Sam, he has touched base in more than 40 countries.  In 1986 he produced the independent children's film Lessie's Rainbow.  During the late 80s and early 90s, he wrote the book Common Sense and delivered the seminars of the same name for the Community Action Network of Seattle (CAN).  While doing his early Vietnam recovery work, he counseled Veterans and spoke widely to men's groups in Washington state, and was a founder of The Lodge of the Wolf.

D. H. BROWN has worked as a Logistics and Weapons Specialist in Viet Nam; day laborer; Director of Security; Armored Car Driver; Police Officer; Professional Hunting Guide; Trapper; Dog Sledder; Homesteader; Truck Driver; General Contractor; Minister; Editor; Writer; Speaker; Restaurateur; Movie Producer; Antique Restoration Specialist; Personal Care Worker; PC Repair Specialist; Computer Instructor; Webmaster and Web Designer. "I write about what I know."

He lives deep in the Pacific Northwest rainforest with his wife, author and editor Rebecca and Buddy Dog, working on his next book.
Visit him at: www.dhbrownbooks.com