Well, I could be mistaken, since I read it maybe 45 years ago. But in Starburst by Frederik Pohl a team of the most brilliant young people in the world is sent on a space mission, which turns out not to have the purpose they thought it did. Rather, it’s meant to be a suicide mission where the team will have to solve impossible problems about survival, from which Earth will then take the info and apply it to rapidly deteriorating conditions on the home planet, for billions. Or something like that.
The young people are pissed when they realize it. But have no choice but to come up with brilliant solutions to survive. However, they surprise Earth by becoming like gods with their solutions, and deciding to turn around and return to Earth to extract their revenge.
Like I said though, it’s been nearly 50 years since I read it. I hope I’m not too far off the gist.
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Well, I could be mistaken, since I read it maybe 45 years ago. But in Starburst by Frederik Pohl a team of the most brilliant young people in the world is sent on a space mission, which turns out not to have the purpose they thought it did. Rather, it’s meant to be a suicide mission where the team will have to solve impossible problems about survival, from which Earth will then take the info and apply it to rapidly deteriorating conditions on the home planet, for billions. Or something like that.
The young people are pissed when they realize it. But have no choice but to come up with brilliant solutions to survive. However, they surprise Earth by becoming like gods with their solutions, and deciding to turn around and return to Earth to extract their revenge.
Like I said though, it’s been nearly 50 years since I read it. I hope I’m not too far off the gist.
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