Supernovae can have unintended consequences

 

You'll have seen that 'space nut' in my 'about me' description. (Writer Photographer Animal lover Space nut) What that means is I'm interested in astronomy, cosmology and generally the science of of the universe. And one of the most spectacular events in the night sky is a supernova.

A supernova happens at the end of a massive star's life, when all its gas shrinks into itself, causing an enormous explosion that scatters star stuff into the galaxy. Stars are enormous fusion reactors, using hydrogen to create helium and in so doing putting out enormous quantities of energy. When a star starts to reach the end of its life the fusion process goes further, creating heavier elements. Supernovae create the heaviest elements, from which planets are created. So they're very important in the cycle of life.

From a distance, though, they show up as a sudden brightening of a star to such an extent that it might even be visible during the day. Supernovae are thankfully rare. If there was one nearby, planet Earth wouldn't stand much of a chance. But even distant supernovas put on quite a show. 

"In 1054, Chinese astronomers took notice of a “guest star” that was, for nearly a month, visible in the daytime sky. The “guest star” they observed was actually a supernova explosion, which gave rise to the Crab Nebula, a six-light-year-wide remnant of the violent event." Read the whole story at NASA.

The Crab Nebula

Here's another one.

"In 185 A.D., Chinese astronomers saw a strange "guest star" suddenly appear in the night sky. It was visible for a staggering eight months. That was enough time for ancient skywatchers to take notice and make the first-known observation of a supernova in human history. There’s also some evidence that Roman astronomers witnessed the event." Read about all the supernovae visible from Earth.

Needless to say, the concept of exploded stars excited my imagination, not least because, since we can't see a supernova until the light arrives here, the star could have exploded thousands of years ago and we wouldn't know. We certainly wouldn't be able to see what remained of the exploded star with the naked eye.

That's what led to my Dryden Universe story, Eye of the Mother. 

BLURB:

A distant star explodes. The ripples of its passing will rock the Empire.

When fate throws Brent Walker and Tian Axmar together, it’s strictly a business arrangement. She’s an Imperial agent with a problem to solve, he’s a space jockey with an empty bank balance and a tramp freighter for hire.

Somebody’s murdering Yrmaks and Humans, and leaving a mysterious calling card. Somebody wants interspecies war. Tian hires Brent to help her investigate, delving into Yrmak customs and beliefs to understand what’s going on. It’s an increasingly dangerous game, with more than just lives at stake. 

Before it’s over Brent and Tian will be faced with choices which will change both of them forever.

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And here's a snippet to whet your interest. Tian is explaining the significance of the explosion of that distant star to Brent.

"We're hearing rumors from the Yrmak heartlands. You know they think the constellation…. Well, no, you wouldn't. From Pok Yaavan, which is their world of origin, you can see a constellation they call the Mother." Tian brought up the view from Pok Yaavan on the common room's screen, then used lines to join the outline of the mythical figure on the starscape.

"Huh. Doesn't look like my mother. And anyway, how can space-faring species believe that crap?"

"Well, they do." Tian requested an image of the Mother as represented in art, a female Yrmak carrying a tree branch in her right hand. "Here she is. This is a statue in the Church of the Mother in Nambor space station's Yrmak district."

"Good grief."

"Why are you surprised? Humans are space farers, but some of them believe in a greater power."

"Sure. But constellations? One jump in shift space and suddenly your Mother looks like a deformed plow."

"Seems Humans had those traditions, too. Anyway, let's look at the constellation again." She reverted to the view of stars from Pok Yaavan and pointed at the star representing the Mother's right eye. It glared, much brighter than any of the stars in the sky. "It's gone supernova. We think that might be what the circle and ray symbol represents. Anyway, whatever it is, it was scrawled on a wall of an Yrmak business on Namrod station that had been attacked. Blown up and the owners killed."

"But that would have been under Yrmak authority. Why do you care?"

"We always like to know what's stirring up the Yrmaks. The chief of police refused to tell us anything, of course." Her exact words were, 'keep your ape snouts out of our business.'

Tian had asked her what the explosion symbol meant. It was always hard to read Yrmaks, but the chief's eye ridges had reddened for a microsecond. Not something she wanted to discuss. "Just a child's scrawl."

This book introduces Brent and Tian who appear in two further stories, For the Greater Good and Retribution.

Greta van der Rol