On the Shores of Titan's Farthest Sea: A Scientific Novel (Science and Fiction)

Titan is practically a planet in its own right, with a diameter similar to that of Mercury, methane rainstorms, organic soot and ethane seas. All of the most detailed knowledge on the moon's geology, volcanology, meteorology, marine sciences and chemistry are gathered together here to paint a factually accurate hypothetical future of early human colonization on this strange world. The views from Titan's Mayda Outpost are spectacular, but all is not well at the moon's remote science base. On the shore of a methane sea beneath glowering skies, atmospherics researcher Abigail Marco finds herself in the middle of murder, piracy and colleagues who seem to be seeing sea monsters and dead people from the past. On the Shores of Titan's Farthest Sea provides thrills, excitement and mystery – couched in the latest science – on one of the Solar System's most bizarre worlds, Saturn's huge moon Titan. "This riveting story, set against a plausibly well integrated interplanetary space, carries us along with its bright and interesting characters. We feel absolutely transported to a hauntingly beautiful and alien Titan through Carroll's masterful weaving of art and science." – Jani Radebaugh, Professor of Planetary Sciences, Titan dune expert, BYU "It's a fun read! Really makes Titan come alive, literally..." – Astrophysicist and author Ralph Lorenz "Michael Carroll's new novel "On the Shores of Titan's Farthest Sea" (Springer) is a gripping, good-vs-evil tale that sparkles with imagination. It's set on the shores of Kraken Mare, the vast methane sea found high in the northern latitudes of Saturn's moon, Titan, in a future when humanity has spread throughout the solar system. The villains are wicked, the heroes are scientists (Thanks, Mike!), the story is convincing, the dialogue snappy, and the scenery is right out of our catalog of findings on this cold, hazy and alien world. If you fancy skipping forward 250 years and checking out how humankind might be navigating the very geography and landforms we have uncovered in our years touring Saturn, this book is for you!" —Carolyn Porco, leader of the Cassini Imaging Science team and the Director of the Cassini Imaging Central Laboratory for Operations (CICLOPS) at the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colorado Titan Is Practically A Planet In Its Own Right, With A Diameter Similar To That Of Mercury, Methane Rainstorms, Organic Soot And Ethane Seas. All Of The Most Detailed Knowledge On The Moon's Geology, Volcanology, Meteorology, Marine Sciences And Chemistry Are Gathered Together Here To Paint A Factually Accurate Hypothetical Future Of Early Human Colonization On This Strange World. The Views From Titan’s Mayda Outpost Are Spectacular, But All Is Not Well At The Moon's Remote Science Base. On The Shore Of A Methane Sea Beneath Glowering Skies, Atmospherics Researcher Abigail Marco Finds Herself In The Middle Of Murder, Piracy And Colleagues Who Seem To Be Seeing Sea Monsters And Dead People From The Past. On The Shores Of Titan’s Farthest Sea Provides Thrills, Excitement And Mystery – Couched In The Latest Science – On One Of The Solar System’s Most Bizarre Worlds, Saturn’s Huge Moon Titan. This Riveting Story, Set Against A Plausibly Well Integrated Interplanetary Space, Carries Us Along With Its Bright And Interesting Characters. We Feel Absolutely Transported To A Hauntingly Beautiful And Alien Titan Through Carroll's Masterful Weaving Of Art And Science. – Jani Radebaugh, Professor Of Planetary Sciences, Titan Dune Expert, Byu It's A Fun Read! Really Makes Titan Come Alive, Literally... – Astrophysicist And Author Ralph Lorenz. Part I: Novel --^ Chapter 1: Encounter.- chapter 2: Abigail Marco.- chapter 3: Baffled And Bewildered.- chapter 4: Demian Sable.- chapter 5: Break-in.- chapter 6: Crash.- chapter 7: Tanya And Abby.- chapter 8: Vesta Valentines.- chapter 9: Titanic Invitation.- chapter 10: Skyward.- chapter 11: The Villa.- chapter 12: Talking Trash.- chapter 13: Submersible.- chapter 14: Partly Cloudy.- chapter 15: Encounter Ii.- chapter 16: Lose/lose.- chapter 17: Cover-up.- chapter 18: Breakthrough!.- chapter 19: New Lead.- chapter 20: Taking Her Out.- chapter 21: Crazy.- chapter 22: Florence.- chapter 23: Power Play.- chapter 24: A Present Absence.- chapter 25: Disappearances And Appearances.- chapter 26: Reunion.- chapter 27: The Lair.- chapter 28: Slithering Things.- chapter 29: A Ping Of A Different Frequency.- chapter 30: Conspiracy Theory.- chapter 31: Lost In A Lost World.- chapter 32: Serpents’ Swim.- chapter 33: A Little Trip.- chapter 34: Somebody Told Me.- chapter 35:^ Sticks And Stones.- chapter 36: The Morning After.- chapter 37: Serpents In The Morning.- chapter 38: Shifting Allies.- chapter 39: The Hunchback Of Mayda Insula.- chapter 40: Silence Of The Grave.- chapter 41: The Long And Winding Road.- chapter 42: Remembering Old Times.- chapter 43: Unwelcoming Committee.- chapter 44: A Bridge Too Far.- chapter 45: The Evening News.- chapter 46: Visitations.- chapter 47: Delayed Gratification.- chapter 48: The Creeps.- chapter 49: Chivalry Is Not Dead.- chapter 50: Lost Ticket Home.- chapter 51: Unsettling Revelations.- chapter 52: Retribution.- chapter 53: Bon Voyage.- chapter 54: Return To Sender.- chapter 55: Sequins And Saline.- chapter 56: What The Doctor Ordered.- chapter 57: The Dancer.- chapter 58: Boarding Parties.- chapter 59: Imminent Departures.- chapter 60: The Note.- part Ii: The Science Behind The Fiction.- 1: Vesta And Asteroid Mining.- 2: The Lay Of The Land On Titan.- 3: Strange Seas On The Surface And^ Beneath -- 4: dunes.- 5: Living On Ice.- 6: Titan Life.- 7: Shared Hallucinations.- 8: Terraforming. . By Michael Carroll. Quotation Page......Page 6 Acknowledgements......Page 8 Contents......Page 10 About the Author......Page 14 Part I: The Novel......Page 15 Chapter 1: Encounter......Page 16 Chapter 2: Abigail Marco......Page 18 Chapter 3: Baffled and Bewildered......Page 23 Chapter 4: Demian Sable......Page 27 Chapter 5: Break-in......Page 32 Chapter 6: Crash......Page 37 Chapter 7: Tanya and Abby......Page 39 Chapter 8: Vesta Valentines......Page 44 Chapter 9: Titanic Invitation......Page 47 Chapter 10: Skyward......Page 50 Chapter 11: The Villa......Page 55 Chapter 12: Talking Trash......Page 59 Chapter 13: Submersible......Page 65 Chapter 14: Partly Cloudy......Page 70 Chapter 15: Encounter II......Page 73 Chapter 16: Lose/Lose......Page 75 Chapter 17: Cover-Up......Page 79 Chapter 18: Breakthrough!......Page 84 Chapter 19: New Lead......Page 89 Chapter 20: Taking Her Out......Page 92 Chapter 21: Crazy......Page 97 Chapter 22: Florence......Page 100 Chapter 23: Power Play......Page 103 Chapter 24: A Present Absence......Page 105 Chapter 25: Disappearances and Appearances......Page 107 Chapter 26: Reunion......Page 110 Chapter 27: The Lair......Page 112 Chapter 28: Slithering Things......Page 115 Chapter 29: A Ping of a Different Frequency......Page 119 Chapter 30: Conspiracy Theory......Page 122 Chapter 31: Lost in a Lost World......Page 125 Chapter 32: Serpents’ Swim......Page 127 Chapter 33: A Little Trip......Page 131 Chapter 34: Somebody Told Me......Page 135 Chapter 35: Sticks and Stones......Page 139 Chapter 36: The Morning After......Page 143 Chapter 37: Serpents in the Morning......Page 150 Chapter 38: Shifting Allies......Page 154 Chapter 39: The Hunchback of Mayda Insula......Page 158 Chapter 40: Silence of the Grave......Page 160 Chapter 41: The Long and Winding Road......Page 162 Chapter 42: Remembering Old Times......Page 165 Chapter 43: Unwelcoming Committee......Page 168 Chapter 44: A Bridge Too Far......Page 173 Chapter 45: The Evening News......Page 176 Chapter 46: Visitations......Page 179 Chapter 47: Delayed Gratification......Page 181 Chapter 48: The Creeps......Page 184 Chapter 49: Chivalry Is Not Dead......Page 188 Chapter 50: Lost Ticket Home......Page 191 Chapter 51: Unsettling Revelations......Page 194 Chapter 52: Retribution......Page 196 Chapter 53: Bon Voyage......Page 199 Chapter 54: Return to Sender......Page 203 Chapter 55: Sequins and Saline......Page 205 Chapter 56: What the Doctor Ordered......Page 208 Chapter 57: The Dancer......Page 212 Chapter 58: Boarding Parties......Page 215 Chapter 59: Imminent Departures......Page 219 Chapter 60: The Note......Page 224 Part II: The Science Behind the Fiction......Page 226 Vesta and Asteroid Mining......Page 227 The Lay of the Land on Titan......Page 231 Strange Seas on the Surface and Beneath......Page 233 Dunes......Page 237 Living on Ice......Page 239 Finding Life......Page 241 Shared Hallucinations......Page 242 A Note about Terraforming......Page 246