Storm of the Giga-annum

I just finished reading Sunstorm by Arthur C. Clarke and Stephen Baxter. It’s the second book in the “A Time Odyssey” series of books. Look at the review of the first book if it interests you. Otherwise follow along as I ramble a bit.

Sunstorm begins right after Bisesa Dutt returns to Earth, the day after she was taken June 9, 2037. Five years have passed for her, but no time has passed for her home. That day an enormous solar mass ejection causes havoc on the Earth’s systems. It destroys power systems, electronics, pipelines, satellites, etc. In a world dominated by power, electronics, constant communication, and a worldwide AI called Aristotle the effect is disastrous. The one scientific genius that predicted the event bears the bad news that another event will occur in 5 years. That coming explosion of energy will make the July 9^th event look like a burp. The Sun is expected to expend a year’s worth of energy in one day, sweeping away the Earth’s atmosphere and sterilizing the surface tens of meters deep. Can the Earth and Moon combine forces to save the Earth from impending doom? And what caused the flaw in the Sun that’s causing all the problems. Bisesa thinks the First Born may have a great deal to do with it.

This is more than a fitting sequel to the first book. It’s interesting cause the books both have action, adventure, and exploration galore, but they both have a different feel because of the differences in the worlds on which they occur. In some ways the series reminds me of the Rama series of books by Clarke. Man I want to read the Space Odyssey Series.