Islands in the Sky: Bold New Ideas for Colonizing Space

by Stanley Schmidt (Editor), Robert Zubrin (Editor)

A fascinating selection of "Analog" magazine's finest articles by leading researchers and science writers. Contains an astonishing range of new proposals for space travel and colonization including plans for the exploration of Mars, ideas for interstellar travel at the speed of light and the process of terraforming other planets to accommodate human life. Describes the latest in space exploration research and development by the world's foremost astronautic engineers.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Space, Astronomy

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 25, 1996

About the author

Stanley Schmidt is an American science fiction author. Between 1978 and 2012 he served as editor of Analog Science Fiction and Fact magazine.

Reviews

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of excellent material and a handful of not-so-hot selections. This anthology of articles, mostly by scientists and engineers many of whom also write science fiction, examines multiple possibilities in terms of both technologies and destinations.
A few overlook some obvious holes in their reasoning, but most are thought-provoking and solidly put together, especially the work of Dr. Robert Zubrin, which is exhaustively provided with hard science down to the detailed equations and inputs. Other authors look at economic and social concerns, so it's a balanced overview, addressing possibilities throughout the solar system, in interstellar space, and ultimately around other stars. Makes me wish I was my grandson's age with at least a plausible possibility of seeing some of the places discussed.

[Patrick Ritchie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a bit of a mixed bag, unfortunately some of the best chapters were taken from other books I've already read. If you're already familiar with the case for mars and entering space you've already got 75% of the best parts of islands in the sky. If you haven't it may be worth picking up, but be warned that a couple of the chapters are quite dated, referring to endeavors that have already failed...