Solar Express by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.

Solar Express

by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.

You can't militarise 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 militarise, 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 Chris can prevent war from breaking out as he navigates among the escalating tensions between nations.

Reviewed by ayla_abbott on

2 of 5 stars

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Something finally happens around pg 370, it lasts about 6 pages, and then it's all downhill from there.

If the point was to demonstrate a) politicians are nut jobs, and b) science happens slowly then yup, well done. No real consequences for anyone. No real great achievements (until the epilogue in the form of a eulogy), and no huge message.

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  • Started reading
  • 30 November, 2015: Finished reading
  • 30 November, 2015: Reviewed