The New Challenge of the Stars

Since the first Apollo Moon shot, knowledge of our planetary system has increased at an extraordinary rate. The New Challenge of the Stars starts out with a bold assumption - that exploration of our neighboring planets can now be taken for granted and that the real challenge lies beyond the frontiers of the Solar System. In vivid paintings and authoritative text it considers all the classic science-fiction themes in the light of the most recent scientific facts. Themes covered by the works of writers such as H.G. Wells and by epic films such as Star Wars - Martian bases, automatic probes, robots, intergalactic travel, space colonies, alien contact - are seen as blueprints for tomorrow's reality. The New Challenge of the Stars places a dramatically new perspective on the possible. David Hardy's paintings and Patrick Moore's text put the seal of truth on what, just a few years ago, was considered the impossible. This is a book for those who set their sights on the stars - and who know that man's exploration of them will be difficult, hazardous and even violent.