Kim Stanley Robinson Interview: 'Aurora' And The Future Of Space Travel

Kim Stanley Robinson, one of the grandmasters of modern science fiction, released a new book on March 14: New York 2140. It's a sprawling adventure story/political drama/slice of life story set in New York City after climate change sends sea levels surging more than 50 feet--drowning Lower Manhattan and transforming a city of gridlike streets into a city of canals, a Super-Venice. We spoke extensively with Robinson about the book--check it out here. But we also spoke with the esteemed author about his last book, Aurora, and the big ideas behind it--from the present state and near future of space travel to what could happen when humanity does reach the stars. Aurora is set a hearty seven centuries or so from now, on an interstellar colony ship heading toward Tau Ceti. Heavily rooted in real science and realistic future science, the book takes a dramatic turn halfway through--one that left many SF fans gasping.