Marie answered, “The possible outcomes of this adventure are wonderful to imagine.”
Appendix A - Character Information
Agnieszka, President, Poland, Subtle
Amudo, Ek Captain, Korea, Subtle
Azek, molecular biochemist, Mexico, Subtle, Jon’s pod
Azita, secretary-clerk, Iran, Hidden
Bachie, industrial engineer - lumber entrepreneur - Taxer, northern India, Hidden
Belis, Ek Lieutenant, Wales, UK, Subtle
Besses, Captain, Switzerland, Subtle
Bettina, secretary, Germany, Subtle
Cuadro, obstetrician, Guatemala, Subtle
Daliborka, Dui Lieutenant, Czech, Hidden
Delphine, 9-12 teacher - IT cancer research assistant, S. Africa, Hidden, Yon’s pod
Djang, chef - entrepreneur - Taxer, China, Subtle
Dudar, reactor operator, Argentina, Subtle
Ebesh, Lieutenant, Turkey, Hidden, Yon’s pod
Elina, Lieutenant, Spain, Subtle
Eveleen, Dui Lieutenant, Ireland, Celtic, Hidden
Fran, Captain of Spaceship 1 - Speaker of Taxers, Belgium, Subtle
Garbine, Lieutenant, Venezuela, Subtle
Gulgin, entertainment entrepreneur - physical therapist - Taxer, Turkey, Subtle
Haley, life-extension research, London, England, Subtle, Jon’s pod
Helve, secretary, Lapland, Finland - Sami, Hidden
Hetem, Lieutenant, S. Africa, Subtle
Himadi, Captain, India - Dravidian, Subtle
Holza, computer manufacturer, Germany, Subtle
Hsiano, Lieutenant, Mongolia, Subtle
Ilaki, Secretary of the Treasury, Hawaii, USA, Subtle
Jelena, ML officer - Vice President, Latvia, Hidden, Yon’s pod
Jon, retired engineer - father figure - Marie’s husband, Crockett, Texas, USA, Subtle
Kalari, molecular cell biologist, S. Africa, Subtle
Kallik, Secretary of the Interior, Canada - Inuit, Subtle
Klomp, MD - cardiologist, The Netherlands, Subtle
Marie, retired teacher & secretary - Jon’s wife, Crockett, Texas, USA, Subtle
ML, company owner, Australia - Aborigine, Spaceship 1
Natalia, reactor operator, Italy, Subtle
Niki, neural biochemist, Russia, Subtle, Jon’s pod
Nusa, Dui Captain, Hungary, HIdden
Nzos, industrial engineer - entrepreneur, A. Nzo District, Eastern Cape, S. Africa, Subtle
Olfan, gymnast - flautist, Sweden, Hidden, Yon’s pod
Onaho, zoo keeper, Japan, Subtle
Opa, Dui Captain, Choctaw, USA, Hidden
Ozlem, obstetrician, Turkey - Kurd, Subtle
Paksie, Lieutenant, Philippines, Subtle
Ristin, Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, Norway, Finno-Ugric - Sami, Subtle
Simona, Captain - Admiral of the Fleet, Romania, Subtle
Tameena (Tami), molecular biologist, Bangladesh - Khasi, Subtle, Jon’s pod
Tikoa, Lieutenant, New Zealand - Maori, Subtle
Uleran, Secretary of the Fleet, Philippines, Subtle
Vaseg, Ek Lieutenant, Pakistan, Subtle
Vrike, vintner, London, England, Subtle
Weinfur, non-ferrous machinist entrepreneur - Taxer, Austria, Hidden
Xis, astronomer, China, Subtle
Ykon, plant pathologist, Sudan - Copt, Subtle, Jon’s pod
Zarifa Ykon, Subtle
Zeilno, air quality control technician, Hungary, Subtle
Zvanie, Ek Captain, Belarus, Subtle
Acknowledgements
I come from a family of gifted writers. My grandfather wrote poems. My mother wrote poems and short stories. My daughter writes poems, novels, and has several published books on cooking and dog breeds. In 1980 I wrote and published a 619 page family history and genealogy book for my parents’ golden wedding anniversary.
Since the mid 1970s I have been developing my ideas for how humanity can successfully leave the solar system; in my view that is an imperative for our species. So, many thanks to all of the unremembered people who unwittingly contributed to the development of these ideas which are the foundation for this science fiction saga.
For a couple of weeks I wrote the beginning of this story before I told my wife, Joyce, that I was writing a science fiction novel. She was quite surprised that I had kept it to myself for so long. She read what I had written and liked my ideas. She encouraged me to continue and was the first reviewer of every chapter thereafter. Initially, she was concerned that if she were too critical I would get discouraged. Ultimately, she became my most reliable reviewer and critic.
Fortunately, several other literary-minded family members have reviewed my writings and offered criticism. My sister-in-law Joan Cobb, an experienced editor and critic, provided her response to the first three books of the saga, including this one. My brother, Richard Hervey, provided criticism of the technical content of the first three books of the saga.
Good friends, DeLonn and David McCall, both retired high school English teachers, enthusiastically supported my project. In addition to editorial comments, DeLonn specifically suggested more variety in “dialogue markers” and inclusion of some comic relief. David commented that he thought the story should be made into a series for television.
My friend, Wesley Crawford, willingly undertook the creation of covers for the books and created the beautiful cover being used.
Technical sources used include the periodical Science News, many sites on the internet, and the magazine New Space.