Read an extract from Dark Eden by Chris Beckett

A Glimpse into a Dark Rogue Planet Outside the Milky Way

The New Scientist Book Club has shared an exclusive extract from Chris Beckett's acclaimed novel 'Dark Eden' as its November selection. This science fiction work immerses readers in the environment of a dark planet drifting alone through deep space, situated well outside the boundaries of the Milky Way galaxy.

The Inhabitants and Their Century-Old Heritage

The excerpt introduces the inhabitants of this sunless world, who are the descendants of two astronauts stranded there more than a century prior. Deprived of a host star's light, these marooned humans must navigate survival on an isolated planet, facing unique environmental and social challenges far from Earth.

Scientific Relevance and Imaginary Exploration

Rogue planets drifting in intergalactic space remain a fascinating area of interest for modern astronomers studying free-floating worlds. This narrative explores how humanity might adapt to extra-galactic isolated worlds, combining speculative fiction with questions about planetary science and human survival in the cosmos.