The Fifth World

The aftermath of nuclear war has left the earth colder, darker, and nearly barren. Billions have died. Some believe the earth is slowly dying, and the human race along with it. An international alliance calling itself the Consortium begins work on a project to terraform and colonize a distant planet called Gaia. The planet will become humanity’s new home. They build the Ark, an enormous starship capable of transporting thousands of colonists to the new planet. For the first time since the war, many are optimistic about the future.

Until something goes wrong: the Ark never reaches Gaia.

Molecular Biologist Becca Newman is devastated at the news of the Ark’s demise. Her brother Alex was among the colonists. He is presumed dead along with the last hope for humanity’s survival.

Fourteen years later, she learns that the Ark somehow succeeded in its mission, and there is a thriving colony on Gaia. She joins an expedition to learn the progress of the colony and to learn what happened to the Ark. Upon their arrival, Becca and Alex are reunited but the other visitors from Earth are not welcome. She soon learns about the inhumane cruelty of the Consortium, the violent insurrection, and a separatist plot spawned before the Ark was even built.