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Set Sail for the Stars
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Set Sail for the Stars From , the free encyclopedia Set Sail for the Stars is a science fiction novel that tells the exciting story of events on a dying Earth and on a sister planet across the galaxy. It was first published in 2008. Plot Summary The book opens with a prologue that describes the formation of the planet Earth, and the eras that led to the rise of Homo sapiens. By the year 2060 this race of beings had succeeded in polluting the miniscule but essential atmospheric covering of Earth, and made their world a place no longer hospitable to their presence. As the story unfolds, Dr. Luke McCorkle is introduced. Luke is a scientist and adventurer who holds a professorship at Columbia University in New York. In recent months he has been consumed by a quest toward a concept for using the potentially enormous amount of energy created by the quantum fields that permeate the vast expanse that is thought of as 'empty' space. Luke's idea is to harness this source to power a spaceship propulsion system that avoids the problems of time dilation as well as the problems of the g-forces on passengers. A spaceship with such a drive would use the free energy of the vacuum to warp the spacetime fabric and arrive at its destination without moving ‘through’ space. Luke's drive would allow spacecraft to be built to carry colonists to distant planets, and to escape an Earth that is dying due to the disastrous effects of global warming. Luke, along with his friend and colleague Mike Ford, is summoned to a meeting by their Columbia department head, Eli Weissman. At the meeting are several faculty members along with an assortment of outsiders. Among these are Roy Peebles, a rabble rousing black activist and Raphael Parson, a charismatic evangelical religious zealot whose TV ministry boasts thousands of followers. The purpose of the meeting is to address the increasing problems caused by the effects of global warming that threaten New York and the world at large. During the meeting it becomes obvious that Peebles, Parson, and city representatives present all have their own self serving agendas. Parson reveals a plan to build his own spaceship, ARK II, for which he seeks funding from his followers. Luke counters with questions on the achievability of this. The meeting ends with little accomplished. Later, Peebles and Parson meet and agree to join forces to promote ARK II, even though both know that it is actually an empty facade designed to bilk the public. Parson also states that he will "take care" of the problem of Luke McCorkle's interference. Meanwhile, Luke is in contact with the beautiful and brilliant Dr. Kathy Singleton. Luke and Kathy had been colleagues and eventually had fallen in love while at Columbia. Luke's obsession with his space drive had caused a rift in their relationship, and Kathy had left for a position at Binghamton University in upstate New York. Luke visits Kathy and asks for her help in his quest. It is obvious that their love continues, and Kathy agrees. On the drive back from Binghamton, Luke is accosted by a girl in distress with an inoperable car. As he offers assistance, she attacks him. As the pair fight using martial arts techniques, two armed thugs appear. In the car chase that ensues, Luke escapes with the realization that dangerous and mysterious forces oppose him. Even so he resolves to forge ahead. He seeks the counsel of Dr. Richard Hamilton Anderson, a retired Cornell University professor of astronomy, in identifying extrasolar planets that might be suitable for colonization. The scene shifts to Ektar, a planet with a similar composition as Earth that also is located in the Milky Way Galaxy. Ektar is populated by a race of intelligent beings who, among other talents, have the ability to teleport themselves over short distances. Unfortunately, the development of widespread and unexplainable infertility threatens the future of this race. The Ektarians, although technologically advanced in some areas, have never developed flight or space travel, so are planet bound. Jalob Markon, the scientist son of a political leader, develops a method and a plan to place a group of Ektarians in suspended animation. He hopes that they can remain so to await the possiblity of a visit from advanced alien beings who may solve the infertility problem and preserve his race. Similar to Luke on Earth, Jalob is opposed by powerful and dangerous elements of the Ektarian hierarchy. While Jalob is supported by his father, Homericas Markon, a leading member of the planet's ruling Council, others plot against him. Foremost among these are Bishop Charlat Onerion, a religious leader, and Hamurabin Rectituman, a corporate mogul. Over opposition, Jalob obtains government support of his project to build a facility for suspension of a group of 200 volunteers to await the future. Despite having to overcome the evil plots of Onerion and Hamurabin, and scientific difficulties as the facility is designed and built, Jalob's vision is moved toward completion. Back on Earth Luke along with Sal Garagiola, a former Green Beret and one of Luke's closest friends, and Emil Dietrich, another associate who is an ad agency copywriter, decide to make a clandestine visit to the estate maintained by Parson's ministry to determine the validity of the ARK II project. Disguised as repairmen, Luke, Sal, and Emil gain entry to Parson's estate. They discover that ARK II is nothing but a facade for TV viewing. They are detected and make a harrowing escape. While they now know the truth about ARK II, Luke feels that the public would not believe them. They must continue on without exposing Parson, at least for the present. Meanwhile, Parson is summoned to meet with Darius Welsh at Welsh's secret base in a vast subsurface cavern on the far side of the Moon. Welsh is the multibillionaire ruler of an economic empire that also includes tentacles into organized crime, terrorism, and religious groups such as Parson's. Welsh is a demagogue with ambitions to command a solar system wide empire. During their meeting, Welsh upbraids Parson for his blundering, including the failed plot to murder Luke, and tells him to desist while still promoting ARK II. After the meeting ends, a strikingly beautiful girl enters the chamber. She is Diana Anspach, the niece of Darius Welsh. She is also the girl who had earlier accosted Luke on the road back from Binghamton. Welsh instructs her to return to Earth to finish the job on Luke. Luke and his associates meet with Professor Mahendra Shandar, a Columbia colleague, and Robert Donovan, a Government official with the Department of Defense. Mahendra is the head of a group to study the potential of extrasolar planets for human colonization. The problem is how to identify suitable venues. Luke explains that his space drive would allow probes to visit planets across the Galaxy and beyond. The problem is how to bring this to fruition. Donovan steps in and tells the group of a government project, funded in secret by the CIA, to develop means of transport off Earth if the need arises. Luke's drive appears to be the solution to the major problem encountered, a means of propulsion. Donovan agrees to make arrangements for Luke and members of his group to work on the project at its base in Arizona. Luke's group is transported to the Arizona base where they are greeted by Lieutenant General Boris Halsey, the commander of the project. Halsey welcomes them as the potential solvers of the primary problem, that of propulsion. They set to work over jealous opposition by the project's senior scientist, Dr. Alvin Weiner. Weiner speaks out against Luke's role in the project, but Halsey commands him to cooperate. Several weeks of exhausting work pass. One evening Mike rushes into Luke's quarters with bad news. Kathy, who had remained behind in New York, seems to have disappeared. Luke and Sal return to New York to search for her. Luke goes to his apartment in Manhattan, conducting the search using his contacts. Sal travels out to Queens to visit Kathy's younger sister Astrid. Sal has always had a crush on Astrid. Together they contact family members in a fruitless attempt to locate Kathy. Sal confesses his love to Astrid, and asks her if she will accompany him, along with Luke and Kathy, if their attempt to colonize a new planet succeeds. Luke receives a midnight visitor, Diana Anspach. She tells him that while she was sent by her uncle to murder Luke, she has come to realize that Welsh is evil, and now wants to help Luke in his quest. She informs him that Kathy has been kidnapped by Welsh, and is being held at the Moon base for questioning and as a bargaining chip with Luke. Luke, Sal and Diana return to Arizona. Luke convinces Halsey to allow him, Sal and Diana to use one of the probes with his drive, even though untested, to go to the Moon in a rescue attempt. The trio manage to penetrate the Moon base, and extricate Kathy from her cell. While returning to their ship they are captured and led before Welsh, who raves about his ambitions to rule the Solar System. Afterwards, they manage to escape. On the way to their ship, Sal places explosive charges that will destroy the base. Diana, who still feels obligated to Welsh, refuses to escape with them, but she along with Welsh and his minions are buried as Luke's ship departs and Sal activates his charges. On Earth, Luke's project moves toward completion. Colonists have been recruited, and a countdown to launch begins. Parson, however, has planted a mole, Martin Benedict, within the Arizona group. Along with Weiner, he plots to abort the launch. On Ektar, Jalob's project also moves to completion. Amid appropriate ceremony and tearful goodbyes, Jalob, his fiancee Esmelda, and the group of volunteers go into suspended animation to await an unforeseen future. As the countdown in Arizona proceeds, Benedict and Weiner attempt an attack to abort the launch. Luke, Sal and Halsey overcome this, but a rabble of Parson's followers break into the base and storm Luke's launch pad. Luke ignores the countdown sequence, and his ship escapes with its cargo of colonists and their hopes for mankind. In the epilogue, Luke and Kathy, Sal and Astrid ponder their future on what they call 'New Earth', as they watch the colonists establishing a new civilization. The planet is Ektar. North of the colonists' landing spot, the machines envisioned by Jalob sense their presence and begin the cycle of revival of the Ektarians who will greet their visitors. But that's a story for another time. Character Histories Below is a list of major and minor characters in the book, in order of appearance, with plot detail. Luke McCorkle A Columbia University professor and scientist/adventurer who has conceived a spacecraft drive that will allow colonists to travel to extrasolar planets to escape a dying Earth. Mike Ford A friend and Columbia associate of Luke's who will aid him in his quest. Eli Weissman The weak and sycophantic head of Luke's Department at Columbia. Roy Peebles A rabble rousing black activist who, in league with Raphael Parson, plots against Luke. Patrick Dempsey A political hack in the New York City government who perceives only the local effects of global warming. Raphael Parson A charismatic evangelical religious zealot who uses his TV ministry to extract funds from his followers for a spurious space venture, ARK II. Kathy Singleton A beautiful and brilliant professor, and Luke's beloved, who assists him in his quest. Jena Singleton Kathy's mother. Richard Anderson A Cornell University professor emeritus of astronomy and expert on extrasolar planets who advises Luke. Howard McCorkle A retired U.S. Army General and Luke's father. Jalob Markon The scientist son of a political leader on the distant planet Ektar who devises a plan to save his race of beings from extinction. Homericas Markon Jalob's father and a prominent political leader on Ektar. Charlat Onerion A religious leader on Ektar who in concert with Hamurabin Rectituman opposes Jalob's plan. Hamurabin Rectituman A corporate mogul on Ektar, who also opposes Jalob, and plots against him. Damon Petrides An evil Ektarian scientist who is enlisted by Hamurabin in an attempt to get rid of Jalob. Esmelda Jalob's fiancee. Marisenda Markos Jalob's mother. Sal Garagiola A former Green Beret and longtime friend of Luke's who contributes his military skills to Luke's endeavors throughout the story. Emil Dietrich Another long time friend of Luke's who assists in recruiting colonists for the venture. Darius Welsh A multibillionaire demagogue with ambitions to rule a solar system wide empire. Diana Anspach Welsh's niece who first tries to murder Luke, but later realizes the error of supporting the evil Welsh, and helps Luke in his quest. Mahendra Shandar A Columbia professor who heads a university group appointed to identify extrasolar planets suitable for colonization. Robert Donovan An official with the Department of Defense who enlists Luke and his associates to work on a secret Government project in Arizona to design a space transport. Boris Halsey An Air Force Lieutenant General who heads the Arizona spacecraft project. Astrid Singleton Kathy's younger sister whom Sal loves and invites to join him in the extrasolar planet colonization attempt. Alvin Weiner A senior scientist at the Arizona project who, out of jealousy, plots against Luke. Martin Benedict A "mole" planted by Raphael Parson in the Arizona project who schemes with Weiner to prevent the spacecraft launch. See Also
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