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. Front Matter....Pages i-xiii Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Encounter....Pages 3-4 Abigail Marco....Pages 5-9 Baffled and Bewildered....Pages 11-14 Demian Sable....Pages 15-19 Break-in....Pages 21-25 Crash....Pages 27-28 Tanya and Abby....Pages 29-33 Vesta Valentines....Pages 35-37 Titanic Invitation....Pages 39-41 Skyward....Pages 43-47 The Villa....Pages 49-52 Talking Trash....Pages 53-58 Submersible....Pages 59-63 Partly Cloudy....Pages 65-67 Encounter II....Pages 69-70 Lose/Lose....Pages 71-74 Cover-Up....Pages 75-79 Breakthrough!....Pages 81-85 New Lead....Pages 87-89 Taking Her Out....Pages 91-95 Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Crazy....Pages 97-99 Florence....Pages 101-103 Power Play....Pages 105-106 A Present Absence....Pages 107-108 Disappearances and Appearances....Pages 109-111 Reunion....Pages 113-114 The Lair....Pages 115-117 Slithering Things....Pages 119-122 A Ping of a Different Frequency....Pages 123-125 Conspiracy Theory....Pages 127-129 Lost in a Lost World....Pages 131-132 Serpents’ Swim....Pages 133-136 A Little Trip....Pages 137-140 Somebody Told Me....Pages 141-144 Sticks and Stones....Pages 145-148 The Morning After....Pages 149-155 Serpents in the Morning....Pages 157-160 Shifting Allies....Pages 161-164 The Hunchback of Mayda Insula....Pages 165-166 Silence of the Grave....Pages 167-168 Front Matter....Pages 1-1 The Long and Winding Road....Pages 169-171 Remembering Old Times....Pages 173-175 Unwelcoming Committee....Pages 177-181 A Bridge Too Far....Pages 183-185 The Evening News....Pages 187-189 Visitations....Pages 191-192 Delayed Gratification....Pages 193-195 The Creeps....Pages 197-200 Chivalry Is Not Dead....Pages 201-203 Lost Ticket Home....Pages 205-207 Unsettling Revelations....Pages 209-210 Retribution....Pages 211-213 Bon Voyage....Pages 215-218 Return to Sender....Pages 219-220 Sequins and Saline....Pages 221-223 What the Doctor Ordered....Pages 225-228 The Dancer....Pages 229-231 Boarding Parties....Pages 233-236 Imminent Departures....Pages 237-241 The Note....Pages 243-244 Front Matter....Pages 245-245 The Science Behind the Fiction....Pages 247-268