Science and the Unknown

The conflict that drives this novel is the discovery and recovery of a unique meteorite. This meteorite is larger than most known meteorites. Most large meteorites fall apart as they enter the earth's atmosphere. Once they land, most meteorites begin to deteriorate as they sit underground for thousands or millions of years. Therefore, most meteorites are relatively small when they are discovered. The meteorite on Isla Desolacion is more than twenty feet in length and weighs thousands of tons. This makes the meteorite the largest meteorite ever discovered and possibly the heaviest object ever moved.

Several of the characters in this novel are scientists. McFarlane is a specialist in meteorites. McFarlane has had the theory for many years that it is possible a meteorite from outside the known solar system might someday be discovered. The meteorite on Isla Desolacion seems to fulfill this theory. The...