Arthur C. Clarke & Stephen Baxter, Sunstorm

Sunstorm

Arthur C. Clarke and Stephen Baxter

Del Rey, Apr 2005, $25.95

ISBN: 034545250X

In 2037, the alien Firstborn takes British Army Lieutenant Bisea Dutt back to her London home where Aristotle greets her after a five year stint off-world including time on planet Mira (see TIME'S EYE). At the same time, a giant solar flare disrupts electrical and electronic gadgetry across the Earth as predicted by astrophysicist Eugene Mangle. He now claims that an even deadlier solar flare will melt the planet to its bedrock on April 20, 2042.

All nations except China unite in an effort to save the planet by constructing a space shield to block much of the deadly radiation, though some of the solar poison will get through. A secondary defense to place the larger cities inside protective geodesic domes begins. Meanwhile, Bisesa believes that Firstborn plans to eradicate humanity while Mangle calculates that intelligent beings sent a planet from the Aquila Constellation to deliberately smash into the Sun in 4 BC, Earth time. Could Firstborn be the connection between ancient history and near future calamity? If humanity survives the solar assault what will this alien do next to achieve global genocide?

SUNSTORM is an exciting conclusion to the terrific TIME'S EYE; however, readers will have to accept key elements involving Firstborn. The key scientists (like Mangle and Royal astronomer McGorran) are stereotypical antagonists from out of a 1950s movie (sort of like the Lost World scientists) while the interesting Bisea remains a strong, heroic character. The storyline is at its best during the international efforts to cooperate and during the five year countdown. Fans who accept Firstborn's motives will enjoy SUNSTORM while others will ask how far off 2001 seems.

Harriet Klausner