{"product_id":"alpha-centauri-the-return-paperback","title":"Alpha Centauri: The Return - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this sequel to \u003ci\u003eAlpha Centauri: First Landing\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eSawyer's World\u003c\/i\u003e, The \u003ci\u003eUSS Heinlein\u003c\/i\u003e returns to Earth, hoping to refit, refuel, and return to the Alpha Centauri system within weeks to pick up the stranded crew of the \u003ci\u003eUSS Poul Anderson\u003c\/i\u003e. Things don't work out that way. Commodore Drake faces a court-martial for the apparent loss of not justthe \u003ci\u003eAnderson\u003c\/i\u003e, but also the \u003ci\u003eKrechet\u003c\/i\u003e and the Chinese ship, \u003ci\u003eXing Hua\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Chinese, meanwhile, have secretly reverse-engineered the \u003ci\u003eXing Hua\u003c\/i\u003e and sent their own expedition to Epsilon Eridani, little realizing what awaits them.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut the real surprise is in the biological samples the \u003ci\u003eHeinlein\u003c\/i\u003e brought back, then smuggled out of the Lunar Quarantine Facility by a biopharmaceutical company looking for any advantage it could get. Ironically, that may be the lever Drake needs to go and rescue the rest of his crew. That is, if they're still alive, and if they \u003ci\u003ewant\u003c\/i\u003e to be rescued.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67576895865055,"sku":"9781974035489","price":21.53,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0813\/8958\/4607\/files\/udA3Ej4Ht69781974035489.webp?v=1790387596","url":"https:\/\/blackandbarhe.com\/products\/alpha-centauri-the-return-paperback","provider":"Black \u0026 Barhe Bookstore","version":"1.0","type":"link"}