Author/artist Michael Carroll has spent decades as a science journalist and even longer as an astronomical artist. He received the AAS Division of Planetary Science's Jonathan Eberhart Award for the best planetary science feature article of 2012. He lectures extensively in concert with his various books, and has done invited talks at science museums, aerospace facilities, and NASA centers. He has written articles and books on topics ranging from space to archeology. His articles and art have appeared in TIME, National Geographic, Scientific American, Smithsonian, Popular Science, Astronomy, Sky and Telescope, Astronomy Now (UK), and a host of children's books and magazines. Among his most recent twenty-some books are Springer's Europa's Lost Expedition and Antarctica: Earth's Own Ice World.

One of his paintings is on the surface of Mars-in digital form-aboard the Phoenix lander. In 2006, he received the Lucien Rudaux Award for lifetime achievement in the Astronomical Arts. He is a Fellow and founding member of the International Association of Astronomical Artists.

Prologue: A Little Ancient History.- Gwen Baré-August 2229, the present.- Interval: Grandma Baré's Diary.- Carter Rhodes-September 2229.- Gwen.- Rhodes.- A Fairy Tale.- Gwen.- Chevalier.- Gwen-October 2229.- Antonio Vincenzi.- Circles Within Circles.- Tommy.- Staying in Touch.- Interval: Abandoning Enceladus.- Sisters.- Offering.- Interval: Thanks for the Memories.- Top of the Loop.- Planetary Yachting.- The Water and the Wattage.- Drop.- You Can't Go Home Again.- Down the Rabbit Hole.- Gwen.- The Downside of Topside.- Cold Awakening.- Hosts of Atlantis West.- In Trouble and Under Water.- Civilized Conversation.- Meetings.- A New Light.- Interference.- Final Approaches.- A Walk on the Sunny Side.- The Dark Side.- Goings and Comings.- An FTL on the Wall.- Long Distance.- Taina.- Homeward.- The Science Behind the Story.