Interesting, mind-expanding stuff about how mankind would journey into the stars, the reasons why he'd go, the kind of ship that would be appropriate and all that sort of thing.

RELEASE NOTES:

Taking this to the First BC Ipswich Christmas Meet tomorrow!

Thanks Turquoisefloyd - are there are clues here on how to be on the first ship out when we've destroyed this planet ;) Interesting stuff, the real mechanics of interstellar flight.

(7/03) This is a fascinating and thought-provoking book, mostly understandable to this layman ;)

As well as the obvious science stuff about how me might propel ourselves the vast distances across space beyond the Milky Way; what speeds we can reach and how, what fuel, technologies for navigation, communication etc. there are interesting discussions on how pioneer societies might be organised, and what diversions are needed for the crew during flights lasting many years. However, my favourite chapters tried to guess at the commercial or other incentives for funding interstellar travel and exploration...one idea was the use of Einsteins ‘Time Dilation’ travelling at near light speeds where time slows down (so-called relatavistic speed) and effectively use time travel for commercial gain!