Book FIVE of the Merimnae Saga
After rendering what aid they could to an injured planet, Zochoten and Urania, their young daughter Theodora and Natasha, her au pair, have left the home of humanity behind. Now, most of the way back to Physeter—the homeworld that they departed from many years ago—something goes wrong and Natasha is woken from stasis prematurely. She is now alone on a ship hurtling toward a planet she has never known and a people who may not accept her.
But was the error that woke her truly unintended, or a carefully set plan to allow time to formulate a plan for her ulterior motive? One that may change the course of a culture she knows nothing about.
The forty-year mission to another star to find a new planet where humans can live is very believable. Four crew take turns being awake. There is emptiness and loneliness, but also camaraderie and love. It has wonderful discussions about genetic memories and the human-bacteria symbiosis.
Floor Kist
If you like Verne, you like Altmann.