You can't militarize space. This one rule has led to decades of peaceful development of space programs worldwide. However, increasing resource scarcity and a changing climate on Earth's surface is causing some interested parties to militarize, namely India, the North American Union, and the Sinese Federation.
The discovery of a strange artifact by Dr. Alayna Wong precipitates a crisis. What appears to be a hitherto undiscovered comet is soon revealed to be an alien structure on a cometary trajectory toward the sun. Now there is a race between countries to see who can study and control the artifact dubbed the "Solar Express" before it perhaps destroys itself.
Leading the way for the North American Union is Alayna's friend Captain Christopher Tavoian, one of the first shuttle pilots to be trained for combat in space. But, as the alien craft gets closer to its destination, it begins to alter the surface of the sun in strange new ways, ways that could lead Alayna to revolutionary discoveries—provided that Chris can prevent war from breaking out as he navigates among the escalating tensions between nations.
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“Modesitt Jr.’s boundless imagination flings readers headfirst into a richly imagined deep-space world in this quick-paced, sharp science-fiction release that offers sharp social commentary, as well as plenty of adventure and well-considered innovations…The plucky lead characters and their pulse-pounding adventure are sure to thrill readers.”
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RT Book Reviews (4 stars)