Yoji Kondo (AKA Erik Kotani) was head of the astrophysics laboratory at Johnson Space Center in Houston during the time of the Apollo and Skylab missions. He is now the director of the International Ultraviolet Explorer Satellite Observatory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and is professor in space sciences at George Mason Univeristy, and has published over 130 papers and edited ten books on astronomy and astrophysics. Among other honors, he is the recipient of the NASA medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement. Under the pseudonym of E. Kotani, he has written five science fiction books and edited a bestselling Heinlein anthology. This is his first STAR TREK novel.
