Mission of Gravity

Mission of Gravity is a landmark of hard science fiction, renowned for its rigorous imagination and scientific precision. The novel takes place on Mesklin, a planet so massive that its crushing gravity varies from three times Earth’s at the equator to seven hundred times at the poles. When a vital Earth probe crashes in this hostile environment, humans must enlist the help of Barlennan, a wily Mesklinite trader whose centipede-like species has adapted to the planet’s extremes. What follows is a gripping tale of exploration, negotiation, and survival, as alien and human struggle to bridge the vast gulf of biology and perspective. Combining adventure with meticulously worked-out physics, Mission of Gravity exemplifies Clement’s belief that the best science fiction pushes imagination to the edge of the possible.