Chapter 56, Perturbation Theory Summary

Dr. Kreuger writes a letter to the editor of Nature regarding Mount Zeus and the possibilities that the mountain introduces. He refers to the 1981 article that proposes the cores of gaseous giant planets consist of pure diamond. He further proposes that Mount Zeus is a fragment of the core of Jupiter, and that more fragments orbit Lucifer. If the diamond can be mined, the material can be used to promote space travel in the Solar System through the construction of a space elevator.

Chapter 56, Perturbation Theory Analysis

The rescue of the crew and passengers of Galaxy marks the climax of the story, along with the sinking of Mount Zeus. Extending the possibilities marks an anti-climax that hints at a sequel story about mining the diamond mountains that must still orbit Lucifer, thus making the entire Solar System accessible to...