PUTTING UP ROOTS

Higher Education by Charles Sheffield and Jerry Pournelle launched the Jupiter™ novels, an ongoing program of exciting science fiction novels based on real science and a positive vision of tomorrow. Putting Up Roots explores an inspiring new future filled with tremendous challenges and opportunities.

Abandoned by his actress mother, Josh Kerrigan tries to settle down on his uncle's farm. But farming on Earth is no longer profitable, so Josh soon finds himself en route to the planet Solferino in the Messina Dust Cloud, twenty-seven light-years from home.

Josh has his hands full on Soiferino, struggling to understand a whole new ecosystem while keeping an eye on his autistic cousin, Dawn. Life gets even more complicated, however, when Dawn makes contact with a mysterious alien creature. The experts all say there is no intelligent life on Solferino, but what if they're wrong