The novel “Orbital Resonance” by John Barnes was published for the first time in 1991. It’s the first book in the Century Next Door series.

Melpomene Murray is given the task of writing an account of her last year of life in order to allow the Earthlings to get to know the life of a thirteen-year-old in the colony established on the asteroid that was named the Flying Dutchman. 2025 was an important year for her and for the colony in general for several reasons.

For people born in space like Melpomene, understanding the behaviors of the Earthlings that led to the catastrophic situation on their planet is almost impossible. This also complicates the relationships with their parents, who are trying to create a new generation that is more empathetic and ready to cooperate.