Martin Mercer is a hydrogen runner. In an age of space travel, hydrogen has become a worldwide source of power for Earth, but the trip to collect it from the sun is a dangerous journey that takes Martin away from his family for long stretches of time. Despite the urgings of his wife and colleagues, he decides to go on another hydrogen run alongside a rookie named Joe, with a stop planned at the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory III (SOHIII), a scientific center run by a biosystem—a being composed of animal and plant aspects—named Gila. However, antics ensue when Martin’s son Lance stows away to visit SOHIII. Matters get worse when pirates begin to steal ships and the equipment used to collect the hydrogen. Martin, Joe, Lance, and others must seek out and stop the ones responsible for the thefts.

This sci-fi novel delves into an issue that concerns the modern world, which is the need for an inexhaustible or renewable source of energy that will not release more carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Gathering hydrogen from the sun becomes the solution, but pirates seek to seize that source of fuel for their own benefit. Stopping such schemes is highlighted as a major concern, and it adds another layer of meaning to the text. Additionally, there are relatable parallels in the fact Martin’s work takes him so far away from home for lengthy stretches and the tension this causes for him with the rest of his family. The story even touches on the creation of other lifeforms to assist humanity and the unease that such a development might cause. In other words, there is a lot to enjoy in this story. Anyone who loves sci-fi tales with a family theme will likely enjoy this read immensely.

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