BECOMING THE PEOPLE OF THE STARS Fundamental transformation. That is what it may take to reach our final destination. And we may not have a choice as dangers from without and pressure from within human civilization force us to adapt to a new star-traveling heritage. We may find that Homo sapiens is on its way to becoming a new and unique species—Homo stellaris: people of the stars. A BOUNDLESS SENSE OF WHAT’S POSSIBLE Inspired by a gathering of scientists, science fiction authors, and futurists at a series of annual meetings held by the Tennessee Valley Interstellar Workshop, here are original science fiction stories and accessible speculative pieces by top scientists that will take you to that future! Enjoy stories from award-winning authors such as Kevin J. Anderson, William Ledbetter, Todd McCaffrey, and Sarah A. Hoyt, plus essays on the science behind the fiction from Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal of the United Kingdom, Mark Shelhamer, Chief Scientist for NASA’s Human Research Program, and more! "[A] thought-provoking look at a selection of real-world challenges and speculative fiction solutions. . . . Readers will enjoy this collection that is as educational as it is entertaining."— "This was an enjoyable collection of science fiction dealing with colonizing the stars. In the collection were several gems and the overall quality was high."— ". . . offers readers a view what of might be our future in space."— "The spirit of Arthur C. Clarke and his contemporaries is alive and well in Johnson’s old-fashioned first-contact novel, set in 2068. . . . includes plenty of realistic detail and puts fun new spins on familiar alien concepts. . . . There’s a great deal here for fans of early hard SF."— "With equal parts science fiction and international intrigue. . . . an exciting, fast-paced read that you will not want to put down."— ". . . a suspenseful and compelling narrative of the first human spaceflight to Mars."—