How will Earth’s children move out into the rest of the universe? Will we leap to other star systems by inventing holes through other dimensions or will we scrape, crawl and drag our way “one small step” at a time? Was Neil Armstrong really the first Earthperson to step on the Moon? What will we find as we venture to new unknown lands… lands unchanged for hundreds of thousands of centuries. These concepts are examined in my exciting adventure -- Earth Rise. Earth Rise tells an exciting tale of civilization rising into the cosmos and has been compared to Michael Crichton’s work in its ability to blend real world science and cutting edge speculation. Earth Rise is comprised of three sections that detail the long, tortuous path taken by the races of the Earth to climb out of the mud and join the glorious community of galactic civilization -- in essence, to reach the stars. Part One, Wrench and Claw is about Vesquith—a regular citizen, enlisted into the Army and assigned to work at a remote base on the Moon. But Vesquith finds himself at a pivotal location at a critical point in time. After the lunar base is destroyed by a meteor consciously diverted by a rebel religious sect, Vesquith must figure a way to survive the harsh environment, protect his fellow comrades, and defend against invaders. The future of his race is at stake. Part Two, Honor Bound Honor Born, follows the tortuous travails of Hawk Stanton as he tries to stay alive on the Moon. A family man with a sense of purpose, Hawk is willing to risk his life to build the first commercial lunar base—to be the first real step for humanity off of the mother planet. But when his return is thwarted by governmental politics, Hawk must find a way to live for months instead of weeks. Fighting crippling loneliness, absolute cold, excruciating injury, and a deadly attack by our Sun, Hawk makes discoveries that will change the world. Could a previous ancient race have traveled to the Moon and on to Mars? What tragedy stopped them? Although the Earth has changed too dramatically to provide any evidence of their existence, the Moon may hold the answers. Cut off from Earth, the lone adventurer must survive not only the hostilities of nature but of his own people. Part III, First Mars, takes the next step – the first human mission to Mars. Because of the advances in virtual reality, humans have learned to control the awesome power released in the gas core nuclear rocket. Capable of speeds previously unimagined in our time, the crew need only beat the ship from the European Union to place the first footprints on Mars. But TD is the only person capable of controlling the engines titanic forces—not by accident. By growing up on the Moon, TD designed, built and tested the engine so only he could run it. This gives him a slot on the first Mars mission. Unfortunately, some people believe that no one should go to Mars at all. This book is slightly prescient, wonderfully exciting, and clearly on the cutting edge of technology. The technologies posed are extensions of front-edge theories of today. These stories could almost occur next week. Earth Rise provides a unique perspective in the front-edge technologies being developed in the Nation’s leading research centers. The story is exciting even as the science is real.