Tau Zero by Poul Anderson
"Tau Zero" is a science fiction novel that explores the journey of the spaceship Leonora Christine as it attempts to establish the first extra-solar colony on Beta Three. The story begins with the ship's crew, comprised of fifty carefully selected scientists, engineers, and professional astronauts, embarking on a mission that requires them to travel at near-light speeds. This high-speed journey employs a Bussard ramscoop to gather hydrogen for fuel, leading to significant time dilation effects; while years pass outside the ship, the crew experiences mere days.
As the voyage progresses, the ship encounters an unexpected event—a collision with interstellar dust that damages the braking system. This incident propels the crew into a state of crisis, as they realize they may be trapped in space indefinitely. Carl Reymont, the ship's constable, plays a crucial role in maintaining order and morale, guiding the crew through psychological challenges and instilling a renewed sense of hope. Their journey takes them further, eventually leading to billions of years passing and the universe contracting.
Facing despair, Reymont leads a daring plan to navigate this shrinking universe, ultimately resulting in the repair of their systems and the discovery of a new planet suitable for colonization. The narrative delves into themes of survival, leadership, and the relentless pursuit of hope in the face of overwhelming odds, making "Tau Zero" a compelling exploration of human endurance and the vastness of space.
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Tau Zero
First published: 1970 (short version, “To Outlive Eternity,” Galaxy Science Fiction, June-August, 1967)
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Science fiction—cosmic voyage
Time of work: The third millennium to the end of the universe
Locale: Aboard the spaceship Leonora Christine
The Plot
Tau Zero has been considered by some to be the ultimate science-fiction novel because its scope reaches to the end of the universe. After some exploratory missions to other stars, Earth decides to send a ship to Beta Three to establish the first extra-solar colony. Because of the vast distance involved, the ship travels at near-light speed, using a Bussard ramscoop to gather hydrogen particles as fuel. As the ship continues to accelerate, relative time slows down for those inside, so that years pass while the crew experiences mere days.
The Leonora Christine is crewed by fifty colonists who have volunteered for this mission knowing that they will never return to Earth. They represent the best and brightest of Earth’s scientists and engineers, as well as professional spacemen and-women who run the ship. Among them is Carl Reymont, the ship’s constable, whose military past qualifies him for the responsibility of maintaining order and authority. Reymont soon forms a relationship with the first officer, Ingrid Lindgren. The voyage goes well at first despite minor personnel problems that result from the boredom and isolation of spaceflight.
The voyage is jeopardized when the ship hits a patch of interstellar dust, damaging the braking system. The Leonora Christine is unable to slow down, and as its acceleration continues, more and more time passes because of the relativistic effects of the ship’s speed. The crew members experience psychological trauma as they realize that they may be trapped in the ship forever. Reymont uses his training in crisis and survival situations to instill renewed spirit and the will to survive. They purposefully accelerate even more, so that they can leave the galaxy and attempt to repair the damaged system in the less dense regions of intergalactic space. Their speed becomes so great that billions of years pass and the universe begins to contract. Most of the colonists are ready to give up at that point, but Reymont leads them in a bold plan to circle the shrinking universe until a monobloc forms, from which the cycle will begin anew. It is in this new universe that the crew repairs the braking system and locates a suitable planet for colonization. Reymont is at last able to lay down the heavy burden of leadership.