Excerpt from Starfarers by Poul Anderson, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

"So the quantum field gate is not for travel between the planets. Nor do I expect it will serve any other mundane purpose."

"But it will take us to the stars," Fleury breathed.

She guided the conversation from that point, retracing much ground, expanding explanations, weaving in a few personal, human matters. It would be raw material for a program that should awaken eagerness in every thinking person who saw it, around Earth, on the Moon and Mars, faring to the ends of the Solar System.

At last the two stood up. She shook his frail hand and said, "Thank you, thank you, Dr. Olivares, for this hour," which had actually been almost three, "and thank you infinitely more for everything you have given the human race." That would remain in the tapes.

Immediacy closed in. Blasphemous though it felt, she could not help herself; she went to the television set in his office and tuned in a newscast.

Terror leaped from the screen. Houghton's junta had seized the Capitol and White House. He had declared a state of emergency and martial law. A number of military units, here and there across the country, had mobilized to resist, and battle had erupted at several locations. She saw combat in the air above Seattle, street fighting in Houston, a city block burning in Minneapolis.

She turned and seized Olivares's hand again. Through her own tears she saw his. "No, God damn it!" she cried. "We've got work to do, you and I"

­Conflict sputtered out in the next few days, as Houghton prevailed. After all, he and his cause were widely popular. He was now the permanent Chief Advisor to any and every President of the United States. The trial and execution of his predecessor assured the docility of Congress and the courts. His reign lasted until his death, nineteen years later.

Olivares lived much longer in history

Excerpted from Starfarers by Poul Anderson. Reproduced with the permission of the publisher. Published by Tor Books. No part of this book can be reproduced without permission from the publisher. Copyright (c) 1998 Poul Anderson,