Jupiter (novel)
.jpg) Cover of the UK Hardcover edition | |
| Author | Ben Bova |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Mark Harrison |
| Series | Grand Tour |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Publisher | Hodder & Stoughton |
Publication date | 2 Nov 2000 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 444 (Hardcover edition) |
| ISBN | 978-0-340-76764-1 |
| OCLC | 44694431 |
Jupiter is a science fiction novel by American writer Ben Bova. This novel is part of the Grand Tour series of novels. It was first published in 2000.
Plot synopsis[edit]
Grant Archer, a young astrophysicist and recently married man dreams of exploring collapsing stars, in hope that one day he would be able to find a way in creating wormholes, to create instantaneous transportation. However, upon graduating he finds out that he must go to Jupiter on a four-year public service, enforced by the ultraconservative religious organization the "New Morality". His orders are to spy on the scientists of the space station "Gold"; where it is believed, and feared that they have found new living species living in a liquid ocean, deep below Jupiter's clouds. As Archer's anger and frustration wears off, he soon finds himself befriending the crew, and drawn to the station's super-secret project; a select few wearing bioimplants in their legs, and a mysterious spacecraft attached to the space station.
Characters[edit]
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- Grant Archer
- Ellis Beech - a New Morality worker, he was the one who set up Grant Archer's residency on Gold SS, in order to spy upon the scientist
- Tavalera - a young man who was aboard the same transport ship as Archer, serving a two-year public service in the Jovian system, working on a "scoop ship"; a spacecraft that collects helium-3 and other isotopes from Jupiter's atmosphere. He is also in the books "Saturn" and "Titan"
- Egon Karlstad
- Zeb Muzorawa - leading astrophysicist on Gold SS, he majors in fluid dynamics, and studies the ever swirling Jovian ocean
- Dr. Li Zhang Wo;— originally the leading astrophysicist on Gold SS before becoming its Director; an unfortunate accident has left him crippled.
- Lane O'Hara- marine biologist that looks after the space stations aquaculture, as well as a few dolphins
- Ursula von Neumann - a computer scientist
- Tamiko Hideshi - a physical chemist on Gold SS
- Rodney Devlin - known as the "Red Devil", officially designated as a Chef on the Gold SS, Devlin is also the man "who can get things"
- Ignacio Quintero - a structural engineer
- Leviathan - not much is known of the entity that lives in the Jovian ocean
Reception[edit]
Publishers Weekly wrote that Jupiter "provides solid action and wonder with credible alien life forms and inspired technology for exploring the Jovian depths".[1] Jackie Cassada, reviewing for the Library Journal, wrote that Jupiter was "another first-rate adventure that combines hard science with human drama to create a challenging and compelling tale of courage and conviction."[2]
References to actual history, geography and contemporary science[edit]
The impact on Jupiter due to the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 is mentioned when Grant Archer first arrives at Jupiter. The Galileo space probe is also mentioned as being the first in a line of missions to study the Jovian system.
Publication history[edit]
- 2000, UK Hodder & Stoughton ISBN 978-0-340-76764-1, Pub Date 2 Nov 2000, Hardcover
- 2000, USA, Tor Books ISBN 978-0-312-87217-5, Pub Date December 2000, Hardcover
- 2001, UK, New English Library ISBN 978-0-340-76765-8, Pub Date 15 February 2001, Paperback
- 2002, USA, Tor Books ISBN 978-0-8125-7941-3, Pub Date 18 February 2002, Paperback