Spider Star
The human colony on the planet Argo has long explored and exploited the technology left behind by an extinct alien race. But then an archaeology team accidentally activates a terrible weapon...
Read More.Praise for Star Dragon
"Seldom does a storytelling talent come along as potent and fully mature as Mike Brotherton. His complex characters take you on a voyage that is both fiercely credible and astonishingly imaginative. This is Science Fiction."
-- David Brin"Star Dragon is terrific fare, offering readers a fusion of hard science and grand adventure."
-- Locus Magazine"Star Dragon is steeped in cosmology, the physics of interstellar travel, exobiology, artificial intelligence, bioscience. Brotherton, author of many scientific articles in refereed journals, has written a dramatic, provocative, utterly convincing hard science sf novel that includes an ironic twist that fans will love."
-- Booklist starred review"Readers hungry for the thought-provoking extrapolation and rigorous technical detail of old-fashioned hard SF are sure to enjoy astronomer Brotherton's first novel."
-- Publishers Weekly"Mike Brotherton, himself a trained astrophysicist, combines the technical acuity and ingenuity of Robert Forward with the ironic, postmodern stance and style of M. John Harrison. In this, his debut novel, those twin talents unite to produce a work that is involving on any number of levels. It's just about all you could ask for in a hardcore SF adventure."
-- Paul di Fillippo, SCI-FI.COM
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Is Space Exploration Worth the Cost?
January 14th, 2008
A few days ago there was a New York Times Freakonomics blog entry on this question that’s worth a read. I suspect anyone finding their way here is going to agree with the people interviewed there, and with me, that the answer is “yes.” In particular there, the question referred to “manned” space exploration, which is a more expensive proposition with less bang for the buck, in general, when compared to the more general question. I still say “yes.”
I have a few previous blog entries that touch on this issue, either on the question about basic research (which manned exploration drives), the reasons for manned exploration, or fallacious objections to it.
Let me reiterate, in my own very bried way, the case for manned space exploration and some rebuttals to the usual objections. It doesn’t cost that much in the grand scheme of things, has enormous spiritual and financial return per dollar invested, and will likely lead to bigger returns that are currently unforseeable. Everything isn’t about, nor should it ever be, just about making money. Giving up space exploration will not allow us to solve any higher priority problems any better than we are doing already.
The United States is the richest and most technologically advanced nation on Earth. We can and should explore our universe in every way possible, and we’re better equipped to do it than anyone else. Failure to do so results from myopia and politics, nothing else, if we turn our back on the final frontier.
It won’t be fast. It won’t be easy. It won’t be completely safe. However, the potential upside is enormous and no less than the salvation of the entire human race if there is a catastrophe here on Earth (e.g., an asteroid impact or man-made disaster). If the government won’t do it, private industry likely will, as there will be a market for the super rich in space tourism.
I look forward to a future in space, for at least some of us. Maybe the Chinese.
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