Boundary [Mass Market Paperback]

Eric Flint (Author), Ryk E. Spoor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 29, 2008

What is a paleontologist doing on Mars? Pushing her boundaries. . . .Problematica, n: a term used in paleontology to refer to fossils that appear to be either of unknown taxonomic origin, or whose occurrence in the location they are found contradicts current beliefs of the field. The find was made by a teenager. A “funny fossil” no one had seen before out in the middle of the Arizona desert. And right in the middle of controversy: the strangely shaped fossil could help explain one of the greatest mysteries of Earth’s past, the great die-off at the KT boundary. It warranted a big dig, one that could lead to the mother lode, andprofessional immortality. But what Dr. Helen Sutter didn’t realize was that it would take her all the way to Mars. . . .

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School–As this engaging and mostly lighthearted tale of the first expedition to Mars begins, three friends and colleagues are sharing what they expect to be their last dig in Montana with paleontologist Dr. Helen Sutter. Joe Buckley and Jackie Secord are graduate students about to embark on engineering careers–Joe with the Ares Project, and Jackie as an astronaut. After a strange fossil is found, anomalies pile up, and A.J. Baker, a genius with new imaging technologies, comes to help document the site. Then a robot explorer he is working with on the Ares Project finds a suspiciously similar fossil on Phobos, the Mars moon, and before long the four are on their way there, along with an equally likable pilot, security officer, and international crew of scientists. Their adventure of discovery and exploration unfolds in intriguing and surprising ways. While the existence of Jurassic-age fossils on Mars is a little hard to swallow at first in such a reality-based nuts-and-bolts type of science fiction, in the end they serve to raise valid questions about the future of humans in space. Besides paleontology, engineering, and space flight, puzzles in linguistics, biology, physics, and evolution further the story, as well as wacky humor, academic rivalries, and even some sweet romances. Science-fiction fans will enjoy a number of in-jokes (such as naming the fossil Bemmius secordeii).–Christine C. Menefee, formerly at Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Eric Flint's is the author-creator of the New York Times best-selling Ring of Fire series. His impressive first novel, Mother of Demons (Baen), was selected by SF Chronicle as one of the best novels of 1997. With fellow New York Times best-selling author David Weber collaborated on 1633, a novel in the Ring of Fire series, and on Crown of Slaves, a best of the year pick by Publishers Weekly and on two Ring of Fire novels, 1633, and the recent 1634: The Baltic War Flint received his masters degree in history from UCLA and was for many years a labor union activist. He lives in East Chicago, IL, with his wife.Ryk E. Spoor, while earning his Master’s degree in Pittsburgh, became a playtesting consultant and writer for the Wizards of the Coast, the leading publisher of role-playing games and related novels. He now lives in East Greenbush, NY, working as a technical proposal writer for a high-tech R&D firm, and spending his non-writing time with his wife and sons. Baen published his first novel, Digital Knight, in 2003.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 608 pages
• Publisher: Baen (January 29, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416555250
• ISBN-13: 978-1416555254
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #541,273 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dinosaurs and space travel, March 12, 2006

By 

Shana L. Rosenfeld - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Boundary (Hardcover)

Boundary is one of my favorite books, added to the list of my 'comfort books' to reread when I am stressed.

I am trying to do a spoiler-free review here.

This is a book about exploration and discovery. The scientists and engineers who are the main characters have dreams that they are working for, and this story is about how they are realized.

I like the characters; they are intelligent and passionate about what they do, and they are willing to work like beavers and _don't_ do stupid things. And they have a sense of humor.

I could go on for paragraphs about the main characters, but I won't. Just that I find them likable. And of the minor characters, my favorite is Nicholas Glendale, particularly for his quashing one of the few unpleasant minor characters in the book.

The romances are sweet, and nicely done, but sidelights to the main story of discovery.

This book has everything I look for in a science fiction book -- characters I care about, cool stuff, an upbeat tone, and a plot that makes sense.

If what you are looking for is grim and gritty 'realism' that involves small-minded people doing nasty stuff, this is not the book for you.

This book is bright in tone, with the idea that 'there is cool stuff there for us to discover' and nice and enthusiastic people going out to find it.

It is a lot of fun to read, and I highly recommend it. If you have any doubts, go read the sample available at the Baen website.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Paleontology meets Space Program meets National Security meets Politics, March 2, 2006

By 

Stephen M. St Onge "Stephen M. St. Onge" (Mpls, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Boundary (Hardcover)

This is the best sf novel I've read in recent months.

In Arizona, paleontologist Helen Sutter finds a fossil that doesn't look like anything that ever existed. In New Mexico, A.J. Baker is designing sensors for the Ares Project, a private group trying to send a manned mission to Mars. And in Washington, Madeline Fathom is working for the "Homeland Investigation Agency," of which it's said 'The buck vanishes here.' When Helen's fossil turns out to be a 65 million year old alien, and A.J.'s sensors find proof that the aliens had a base orbiting Mars, Sutter, Baker, Fathom and others are headed to Mars.

This is the kind of science fiction that isn't written much anymore, "hard sf," where the author tries to extrapolate what will be possible in a few decades. Arthur C. Clarke did it magnificently in novels like _Prelude to Space_ and _Sands of Mars_. _Boundary_ ranks with those masterpieces.

Highly recommended.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful new tale from Eric Flint and a Promising new author!!!, March 16, 2006

By 

Erik Weikum "EAW" (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Boundary (Hardcover)

Set in the near future, Boundary is a fun, humor-filled and adventure ready read of daring-dos, fantastic finds, space travel and a little romance!

An unexplained and possible career destroying find is found in the midst of bone dig in backwoods Montana.

As a private company prepares to beat NASA to Mars with the intention of claiming the planet in the name of the company, the USA and profit, another discover throws those plans along with the human race into a tizzy. For what was found in Montana has found in a room, behind a door, on Phobos, one of Mar's moons.

Visitors from another world had already been to earth... a very long, long time ago... The fear and dreams and hopes of an entire planet look to Phobos and Mars and the Boundary of past, present and future.

A very good read, I highly recommend it and look forward the rest of the series!!