← Back to Concept Index

goldilocks-ships

Early human spacecraft propelled by atomic bombs, designed for one-way exploratory missions, now considered antiques.

1 chapter across 1 book

The Wrong Stars (2017)Tim Pratt

Chapter 1

Callie and her crew aboard the White Raven discover an ancient, derelict goldilocks ship in trans-Neptunian space, a vessel originally designed for one-way atomic-bomb propelled missions. They cautiously investigate the ship, uncovering empty cryosleep chambers and eventually reviving a woman in cryogenic suspension who reveals humanity's first contact with aliens, though her information is outdated. Throughout their exploration, the crew grapples with the risks of hull breaches, the mystery of the ship's modifications and missing crew, and the implications of the revived woman's urgent message.