{"product_id":"star-pyramid-ian-stewart-9781915304865","title":"Star Pyramid","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe pyramids of ancient Egypt were colossal machines intended to carry powerful rulers to the stars.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe modern one was the same.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the mid 2100s, Earth is in decline. Colonies and mining around distant stars are needed to deal with resource shortages and population growth. But those require faster-than-light travel. A Nobel-winning physicist and a maverick mathematician have argued that FTL travel is a theoretical possibility, but only by using the mysterious superheavy element 126, 'mahabhavium'. It is being created atom by atom in vast accelerators, but not in useful quantities. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Everything changes when mahabhavium is discovered spectroscopically in gas clouds surrounding a neutron star 400 light years away. The Star Pyramid project is born. A pyramid-shaped starship travelling just below the speed of light, Star Pyramid can reach the gas clouds in around 400 years - 98 years from the perspective of the crew, who will spend most of the trip in suspended animation anyway. It will harvest mahabhavium and use a small fraction to return to Earth immediately. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e A massive concerted global effort provides the resources needed for Star Pyramid to launch in 2169, but not without critics on Earth and potential saboteurs on board. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e What could possibly go wrong?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAnother thought-provoking science fiction tour-de-force from Ian Stewart, in an innovative documentary-style narrated by various of the main characters involved.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Ian Stewart\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1915304865\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781915304865\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Elsewhen Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 07\/11\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 388\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.84lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.00h x 5.00w x 0.86d","brand":"Ian Stewart","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48588341346559,"sku":"9781915304865","price":22.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/star-pyramid-ian-stewart-9781915304865","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}