Mercury - Softcover

Ben Bova

Softcover

ISBN 10: 034082395X ISBN 13: 9780340823958

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton Paperbacks, 2005

Synopsis

The closest planet to the Sun, Mercury is an airless, heat-scorched world where temperatures rise to four times higher than the boiling point of water. But this vision of hell is also a planet with unlimited solar power - worth a fortune to the space tycoon Saito Yamagata if he can find a way to harness it. He has hired the enigmatic Dante Alexios to establish a research station on the surface of the planet and find a way to turn that solar energy into portable power satellites. But Yamagata is secretly also preparing the way to a very different dream: he wants to travel to the stars themselves. And Alexios has his own obsession, a plot to lure an old enemy to this hellhole of a world and take his revenge for one of the worst disasters in human history.

About this title

About the Author:

An award-winning editor, President Emeritus of the National Space Society and a Fellow of the British Interplanetary Society, Ben Bova is also the author of more than one hundred futuristic novels and non-fiction books. He and his wife live in Florida.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

SURFACE RESCUE

“I’m really stuck here,“ Molina called, a hint of desperation in his voice. “I need you to help me. What are you doing up there?”

Alexios heard himself say, “I’m coming down. It’ll take a few minutes. Hang in there.”

“Well for Christ’s sake don’t dawdle! I’m sloshing in my own sweat inside this frigging suit.”

Alexios smiled again. You’re not helping yourself, Victor. You’re not making it easier for me to come to your aid.

But he pushed the door of the tractor’s cab open and jumped to the ground, almost hoping that he’d snap an ankle or twist a knee and be unable to save Victor’s self-centered butt. Angry with himself, furious with Victor and the other two, irritated at the world in general, Alexios marched to the winch and wrapped the cable around both his gloved hands.

Slowly he began lowering himself down the steep side of the gully.

“What are you doing?” Molina demanded. “Are you coming?”

“I’ll be there in a few minutes,“ Alexios said between gritted teeth.

I’ll save your ass, Victor, he thought. I’ll save your body. I won’t let you die. I’ll bring you back and let you destroy yourself. That’s just as good as killing you. Better, even. Destroy yourself, Victor. With my help.

About this edition

• Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton Paperbacks
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 034082395X
• ISBN 13: 9780340823958
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 384