Description:

The third novel in Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter’s “Long Earth” series, which *Io9* calls “a brilliant science fiction collaboration.” 2040-2045: In the years after the cataclysmic Yellowstone eruption there is massive economic dislocation as populations flee Datum Earth to myriad Long Earth worlds. Sally, Joshua, and Lobsang are all involved in this perilous rescue work when, out of the blue, Sally is contacted by her long-vanished father and inventor of the original Stepper device, Willis Linsay. He tells her he is planning a fantastic voyage across the Long Mars and wants her to accompany him. But Sally soon learns that Willis has an ulterior motive for his request. . . . Meanwhile U. S. Navy Commander Maggie Kauffman has embarked on an incredible journey of her own, leading an expedition to the outer limits of the far Long Earth. For Joshua, the crisis he faces is much closer to home. He becomes embroiled in the plight of the Next: the super-bright post-humans who are beginning to emerge from their “long childhood” in the community called Happy Landings, located deep in the Long Earth. Ignorance and fear have caused “normal” human society to turn against the Next. A dramatic showdown seems inevitable. . . . ** ### From Booklist The Long Earth is under tremendous strain due to the eruption of the Yellowstone volcano on Datum Earth; Sally, Joshua, and Lobsang are all involved in the rescue work to some degree or another. Sally’s father contacts her out of the blue and invites her to join him on an expedition to the Long Mars. Of course, he has an ulterior motive—and the consequences of his obsession are going to be far-reaching. Navy Commander Maggie Kaufman, along with her crew and a select crew from China, is on an expedition to the farthest reaches of the Long Earth, on which they’ll make quite a few earth-shattering discoveries. Joshua’s focus is on the children of Happy Landings, the “Next.” They’re essentially post-human, and that makes normal humans fear them. The confrontation seems inevitable, especially after some of what Kaufman and her expedition discover. This is a solid piece of old-school science fiction, with a modern political bent; the exploration of both the Long Earth and Long Mars is well played. Long Mars in particular is an excellent piece of world building. High Demand Backstory: Two big names in the SF world will bring readers into the library asking for reserve slips. --Regina Schroeder ### Review “Panoramic and fascinating...” (Kirkus)