Who is watching the stars, every second of every day, so we can better understand the universe?
This short story was awarded the 2nd place in the Science Fiction category, in the Athens Fantasticon 2016 competition.
Inspired by the James Webb Space Telescope which will be launched and deployed in 2020. It will hopefully be as invaluable as Hubble was, opening our eyes to the cosmos.
4.4 star rating on Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34570424-cosmophobia
and on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Cosmophobia-Antigravel-George-Saoulidis-ebook/dp/B06XHSDB68/
The way we picture Atlas is wrong. We portray him as kneeling deep, his head to the side, propping the sky on his shoulders, lifting it for eternity. The truth is quite different. Atlas has his back on Earth and his gaze is straight up towards the sky. The immense weight of the celestial canopy is supported only by his eyes, which are forever open wide. And all that, under an eternal eclipse's shadow.
Or at least that is how I feel. Alone, in the endless darkness, doomed, staring at the stars. I'm located at the Lagrange L2 point, on the Sun-Earth axis but beyond.
The Sun... Ha! I can't remember the last time I gazed upon the Sun. My days, if they can be called days at all, are intertwined in a continuous dark river. I don't know how long I've been up here and nobody will tell me. Oh, what I wouldn't give to see the sunlight for just one more time... Earth is constantly positioned between me and him, shading me so I can better see the stars. Pft! Us and our curiosity. Sometimes... I can catch a glimpse of some more light, a touch of of daylight. When the Moon reflects from the side, when the conditions are just right. But I can't turn around and look, for I am bound.
| Language | Status |
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German
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Already translated.
Translated by Peter Nothen
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Greek
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Already translated.
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Italian
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Already translated.
Translated by Monja Areniello
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Portuguese
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Translation in progress.
Translated by Fernando Costa
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Spanish
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Already translated.
Translated by Stanlyn Guaita Vallenilla
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