Flying to Valhalla

by Charles Pellegrino

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Summary

From the Flyleaf:

Acclaimed scientist and author of numerous works of nonfiction, Dr. Charles Pellegrino makes a brilliant foray into the realm of speculative fiction with FLYING TO VALHALLA -- a disturbing yet ultimately transcendent tale of space exploration that combines cutting-edge science with breathtaking storytelling artistry.

Having harnessed the power of anti-matter, a devastating force capable of obliterating galaxies, humankind sets out for the stars -- in search of unknown life forms... and possible competitors. But at the midpoint of the 21st century, as the relativistic spacecraft Valkyrie approaches the inhabited forth world of Alpha Centauri A, the masters on Earth harbor grave fears about the mission's outcome. Transmissions from Chris Wayville, the male half of the husband and wife team manning Valkyrie, have revealed a mind seriously unbalanced by an earlier death/rebirth experience on Earth's moon. The man who may control the destiny of an alien planet, and perhaps his homeworld's as well, is possibly insane.

On A-4, Chris and Clarice Wayville are welcomed by a benign and intelligent marsupial race whose ancient past is linked to man's in bizarre and sinister ways. Here where the smallest mistake can have species-threatening consequences, the visitors struggle in vain to preserve the integrity of the intruded-upon civilization. But through it all, Chris Wayville's dark visions persist -- horrifying premonitions of death and destruction shared by a renegade Alphan astronomer. And in a moment of weakness, the Wayvilles will bring crisis to their adopted world -- by inadvertently introducing their gentle, unsuspecting hosts to the most terrible of Earthborn concepts: war.

Described by colleagues as "the world's first paleontologist," Dr. Charles Pellegrino worked with the deep sea robots that probed the wreckage of the Titanic. He is a co-designer of the Valkyrie anti-matter rocket, and predicted (along with Dr. Jesse Stoff) the discover of oceans inside certain icy moons of the outer Solar System. His speculative piece in OMNI magazine on the possible cloning of dinosaurs was the basis for the bestselling Michael Chrichton novel Jurassic Park . The author of eight non-fiction books, including the bestselling Her Name, Titanic, and Unearthing Atlantis: An Archaeological Odyssey, Dr. Pellegrino is the holder of numerous scientific patents -- and spends his spare time building sand cities, speaking at science fiction conventions... and scaring the hell out of Stephen King.

Jacket illustration by Vincent DiFate
Jacket design by Stephen Bell

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