The Planets

Consists of essays by astronomers, speculations by science fiction authors, and illustrations by space artists.

YA The world's foremost space scientists, science fiction writers and space artistsover 30 contributors in alltake readers on a tour of the solar system as it exists now and as it may appear when fully explored. Readers are taken to the surface of each of the nine planets as current discoveries are presented by scientists who worked with NASA's Mariner, Galileo, and Voyager probes. Each essay is followed by an original story by a noted writer such as Harry Harrison, Gregory Benford, Ray Bradbury, or Robert Silverberg. Essays are illustrated with photographs from NASA and the Jet Propulsion Lab; each story is illustrated with new paintings by science fiction illustrators such as Ralph McQuarrie (Star Wars), Robert McCall (2001), Wayne Barlow, and astronaut Alan Bean. The overview by Preiss is especially noteworthy as he touches upon Earth's latest ecological problems and points out that in our brilliant discoveries about the invisible world of space and the microscopic world inside us, we are becoming blind to the visible world around us. This book explores the diversity of the solar system in a way that suggests the possibilities that it holds for humanity. An outstanding work, sure to intrigue students interested in astronomy and science fiction alike. Mary Wadsworth Sucher, Baltimore County Reading Services
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