Star Settlers: The Billionaires, Geniuses, and Crazed Visionaries Out to Conquer the Universe

Science journalist Nadis (The Man from Mars) delivers a thought-provoking look at the scientists, space fans, and industrialists determined to settle humanity among the stars. The author spotlights early science fiction works, such as Jules Verne’s 1865 From the Earth to the Moon, as the fuel that powered the imaginations of rocketry pioneers including Russian Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, American Robert Goddard, and “German rocket scientist turned Space Age idol” Wernher von Braun. Today, billionaires Jeff Bezos (himself inspired by Star Trek) and Elon Musk, as well as other moguls, oversee their own private rocket firms, motivated both by the chance of profit—such as through tourism or mining—and the dream of helping humanity escape climate change and other pressing terrestrial problems. Nadis shows where these futurists diverge in their goals—some, like Bezos, believe humanity’s best chance lies in moving to orbiting space colonies, while others look to Mars, among them Musk and aerospace engineer Robert Zubrin, founder of the Mars Society. What Nadis finds they all have in common is a passionate vision, summed up by astronomer Carl Sagan’s declaration that “all civilizations become either spacefaring or extinct,” which Nadis finds both inspiring and unrealistic. With this grounded but far-reaching treatise, Nadis introduces readers to some fascinating dreams of the future. (Aug.)