The Cord

Book excerpt: Between Earth and outer space lies the Cord… In the distant future lies Station, an orbiting space station tethered by a cord to Earth, allowing people to use the space elevator to travel into low-orbit without rockets, allowing for unprecedented space exploration and tourism. Envisioned as a secure and enjoyable place to work and visit, the cord is a valuable resource—one that people are willing to fight for to gain control. Travel along with a robot repairman who uncovers a disturbing conspiracy, a teenaged girl who is caught up in a revolution, and a tour guide in space trying to reestablish a lost connection with his brother on Earth. Beginning at the end and ending at the beginning, this unfolding story told over future locales and times reveals the enigma of the cord and the secrets between the fragile ties connecting lovers, friends, and the generations who traverse the cord.