When an alien race resembles miniature elephants called Fithp arrives in the solar system, they initiate a conquest of Earth by dropping massive kinetic projectiles from orbit. The story follows a diverse cast, including President David Coffey, various scientists, and Soviet leaders, as they navigate a global surrender and a subsequent underground resistance. The Fithp operate under a herd mentality, viewing war as a ritual of dominance where the loser is integrated into the winner's society. Humanity counters this extraterrestrial threat by constructing the Michael, a massive spacecraft powered by nuclear pulse propulsion, to engage the mother ship in a final orbital battle.
Readers who enjoy hard science fiction and detailed technical speculation will find a realistic depiction of orbital mechanics and the physics of space combat. The narrative provides an intricate look at how modern political structures and military forces would respond to a superior technological adversary. Someone finishing this book gains an understanding of kinetic bombardment as a weapon of mass destruction and the strategic logic of total war between two biologically different species. It appeals to those interested in the logistical challenges of first contact and the application of 1980s-era technology against an interstellar invader.
Outward-looking, clear-cut and escapist; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Curious Generalist. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1985
- Language
- EN
