""EARTH IS EARTH AND SPACE IS SPACE."" To be precise, New Earth and Near Space. In this innovative new science fiction novel, the Home Planet's multitudinous billions and the solar system's mere five millions are on the brink of war. At stake is the threatened completion of the revolutionary Glifford Transfer - a ladder to the stars that will allow the ruthless military cabal that controls New Earth to crush the 'Runners' of Near Space once and for all.
From Rhonda Fleming, the brilliant, brittle but flawed Spacer-turned-politician, to Guardian Two, the ruthlessly ambitious Second Man in the Federation; from Derek Glifford, Rhonda's enigmatic lover and brilliant space designer, to his brother Robert, a fanatical Federation zealot; from the ailing Hal Fernandez, seemingly determined on a peaceful solution at any price, to the sycophantic Gratitude Three, humanity is now locked in a life-or-death struggle from which only one side can emerge victorious.

Professor Roger Openshaw holds a Personal Chair in History of Education. He had six years' teaching experience in New Zealand primary and intermediate schools prior to gaining his doctorate in History. He subsequently became a university researcher and teacher. He remains active in researching New Zealand's social and political history. In regards to fiction, he is a co-author (with Adrian (Bill) Phillips) of The War That Was Not. Published by Austin Macauley in 2016, this first novel has as its main theme, an unfortunate declaration of war by New Zealand on Nazi Germany during the 1938 Munich crisis. Professor Openshaw has also written/co-written/edited/co-edited over 20 national and international books, together with over 50 articles and book chapters. This, his latest book, is the author's first venture into science fiction.