This page provides certain earth facts (numbers about planet Earth
and its dominant species), followed by commentary by Gene Shiles,
author of "Tribes of the Orange Sun" "Pale Yellow Sun" and
"White Sun Chronicle."
(Descriptions of these most intriguing books are given later.)
Site Map
| Books about the Future | Online Novels | Future World |
| Tribes of the Orange Sun | Pale Yellow Sun | White Sun Chronicle |
| Over Population | Space Colonization | Earth Facts |
Earth Facts - Size
Planet Earth is a slightly "flattened" sphere; its radius is about
3964 miles (at the
equator, where it is widest). Water covers
roughly 71% of the surface. "Dry" land
is therefore about
57 million square miles in area.
Earth Facts - Population of the Dominant Species
For much of human history, up to around 10 thousand years
ago (generally accepted by
science, although some place
the time a few thousand years earlier), the human population
of planet Earth
remained stabilized at around 8 to 10 million.
Since then it has grown, at varying rates, to reach its
present level of about 6,700 million (6.7 billion). This
growth started when people began to grow
crops and
domesticate animals, which initiated the change from a
hunter/gatherer subsistence
(natural food supply) to a
technology-driven food supply (agriculture). We note
that about 670
(or more) humans are alive today (most
supported by agricultural technology) for every one
human who was supported by the natural food supply
of early non-technological planet Earth.
The more recent "explosive" growth (doubled in the 40-year
period from 1960 to
2000, from about 3 billion to about
6 billion) is due to much more than just advances in
agricultural technology. Among other factors is the
decrease in the death rate due to advances in
medicine
and sanitation.
Earth Facts - Density of the Dominant Species
Using the numbers above, we can calculate the average
density of humans
(in, for example, people per square mile)
on planet Earth's land. With today's 6.7 billion on 57 million
square miles of land, the density is about 118 per square
mile. This number is somewhat
deceiving, though, since
much of that land area is not "liveable" (too cold, too
dry, too wet, too mountainous, etc.)
For "primitive" Earth, let us use the
number 10 million.
The density then (before agriculture, back when humans
lived off Earth's
natural food supply) was about .18
people per square mile (or about one person per 5.7
square miles). Again we must mention that not all land
was liveable; not all land was
suitable for hunting and
gathering.
Commentary on the Earth Facts
118 people per square mile may not look like an over
population. That could be, using for example 3
people per
average house, about 39 houses per square mile. Again,
not all land is "suitable";
let us add about 50% to this, giving
59 houses per "suitable" square mile. With about 650 acres
to the square mile, this is about 11 acres per house.
As stated, this doesn't look like
over population; but those
3 people per house must be fed. So much of that 11 acres
must
be in intensive agriculture (if we are going to assume
that the entire "suitable" land
area of planet Earth is
populated in this uniform way).
Modern cities are much more dense than
118 people per
square mile. But cities are never self-sufficient. Cities
require, for their
very existence, that large areas
elsewhere be dedicated to agriculture. In modern "global"
society, agricultural land need not be adjacent to each
city; but that land must be somewhere
"on planet Earth,"
and it must be suited to agriculture.
The Growing Human Population of Planet Earth
Is over population on planet Earth a serious problem? One
might look at various "earth facts." Just a few examples:
Thousands, mostly children,
starve to death every day in
different places around the world. Forests everywhere are
"disappearing." The global unpolluted fresh water supply is
in danger. Illegal
immigration is a big problem for the
United States.
Science and technology, and, yes, politics, may "handle" these
and other such overpopulation problems in the short term even
if human population continues to grow. But what kind of world
will our great-great-grandchildren inherit? Eventually over
population must be controlled, but the longer society waits
the more draconian must be the method and the greater must
be the price paid in terms of environmental problems and
human lifestyles.
Is space colonization an alternative?
Recently Published Books
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NOW AVAILABLE: "Colors of the Sun - A Trilogy" contains all three stories in one volume!
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"Tribes of the Orange Sun," published in November, 2001, "Pale Yellow Sun," published in June, 2004, and "White Sun Chronicle," published in November, 2007, look at Earth more than two hundred years in the future. Population has grown to 24 billion. Science and technology has kept up with this over population (fed the people) and struggled with the environmental problems - but human lifestyles have changed dramatically. (Note that growth to 24 billion in 200 years requires a slowing of the current growth rate - to a doubling in 100 years instead of 40 years.)
These most compelling stories also assume that the same science and technology has developed the means to send large numbers of people to other solar system(s).
Is space colonization the way to solve the over population problem once and for all?
Direct links to several online bookstores
(prices shown are list for trade paperback;
ebooks are $6.00 for any one of the three titles)
| Tribes of the Orange Sun ($18.95) --> | Publisher, iUniverse | Barnes&Noble | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pale Yellow Sun ($13.95) --> | Publisher, iUniverse | Barnes&Noble | Amazon |
| White Sun Chronicle ($16.95) --> | Publisher, iUniverse | Barnes&Noble | Amazon |
| Colors of the Sun ($32.95) --> | Publisher, iUniverse | Barnes&Noble | Amazon |
*Click here on synopsis to read a short description of the story "Tribes of the Orange Sun."
*Click here on synopsis to read a short description of the story "Pale Yellow Sun."
*Click here on synopsis to read a short description of the story "white Sun Chronicle."
Click here to go to the "Tribes of the Orange Sun" home page.
Click here to go to the "Pale Yellow Sun" home page.
Click here to go to the "White Sun Chronicle" home page.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Gene Shiles is a scientist and former
university professor. He holds a PhD
degree in Physics from the Universityof California.
His hobbies include, among others,
hiking, fishing, gardening and
easy-listening music. He grew up in
Illinois and currently lives in Minnesota.
He has a black cat named Panther.
Direct links to several online bookstores
(prices shown are list for trade paperback;
ebooks are $6.00 for any one of the three titles)
| Tribes of the Orange Sun ($18.95) --> | Publisher, iUniverse | Barnes&Noble | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pale Yellow Sun ($13.95) --> | Publisher, iUniverse | Barnes&Noble | Amazon |
| White Sun Chronicle ($16.95) --> | Publisher, iUniverse | Barnes&Noble | Amazon |
| Colors of the Sun ($32.95) --> | Publisher, iUniverse | Barnes&Noble | Amazon |
The books are also available at other online bookstores.
To order by phone, call publisher toll-free: (877) 823-9235
Publisher: iUniverse, Inc.
Tribes of the Orange Sun: ISBN # 0-595-20319-1The titles can also be ordered at Barnes and Noble brick-and-mortar bookstores.
SYNOPSIS, "Tribes of the Orange Sun"
Future scientists, struggling with over population and
environmental problems, devise an ambitious plan to
manage further population growth. Earth Government
hastily implements the new plan; the only alternative,
forced population control, is not politically attractive.
Adam Hampton, the newest member of the population
project's organizing team, objects to an excessively
optimistic use of old and some very new technologies.
He suspects that the plan is fundamentally flawed,
that the lives of the many young volunteers are at
risk. But, in the beginning, he cannot point to anything
specific. He can only watch and wait while three of his
best friends - and millions of others - begin what they
believe will be a great adventure and a new life.
The eager volunteers reach their destination, a faraway
earthlike planet, but events don't go as planned. They
must soon fight for bare survival against an ancient
menace - a menace that had plagued growing populations,
man and animal alike, since life first began.
SYNOPSIS, "Pale Yellow Sun"
The people of Emil, living a relatively idyllic life in
a bountiful land, learn that they will soon face great
change. Like it or not, they must end their isolation
and become entangled in the most critical problem
menacing the rest of civilization. All of their concerns,
both societal and personal, must make way for the new
challenge.
Andy Landis is a young engineer recently graduated from
prestigious East Quadrant University. He has been offered
a great new job, and is just beginning a romance with a
young woman he has known since childhood. His plans take
a turn when he is asked to take part in a decision crucial
to his society's future. He soon learns that the choice
will be between the ruin of his beautiful homeland and
mass murder - and suspects that the decision could
be his alone.
To make this terrible choice, Andy must uncover secrets
from that society's tragic early days.
SYNOPSIS, "White Sun Chronicle"
The citizens of crowded Earth, struggling to deal with
environmental degradation and lifestyle changes, face a
more crushing blow: world hunger.
The global food supply is destroyed and the people flee
the cities in a bid for survival. Hungry refugees find
that the only plentiful source of nourishment is what
had been, until recently, unthinkable.
Neil Silvers, a senior member of the Earth Senate, is
one of a lucky few who find sanctuary in a secure
building as chaos reigns outside. While he contemplates
the fate of the world, he also dreams about Laura, a
young, red-haired junior senator with intriguing green
eyes.
The group’s food supply soon runs out. Neil, Laura, and
a handful of others must venture outside to face a world
where humans compete with each other as never before.
Neil and what’s left of humanity confront their darkest
fears and soon learn what survival is really about.
Are these stories fantasy? Or are they really about the future
of our home planet? Our own present and future world?
Read "Tribes of the Orange Sun."
Read "Pale Yellow Sun."
Direct links to several online bookstores
(prices shown are list for trade paperback;
ebooks are $6.00 for any one of the three titles)
| Tribes of the Orange Sun ($18.95) --> | Publisher, iUniverse | Barnes&Noble | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pale Yellow Sun ($13.95) --> | Publisher, iUniverse | Barnes&Noble | Amazon |
| White Sun Chronicle ($16.95) --> | Publisher, iUniverse | Barnes&Noble | Amazon |
| Colors of the Sun ($32.95) --> | Publisher, iUniverse | Barnes&Noble | Amazon |
The books are also available at other online bookstores.
To order by phone, call publisher toll-free: (877) 823-9235
Publisher: iUniverse, Inc.
Tribes of the Orange Sun: ISBN # 0-595-20319-1The titles can also be ordered at Barnes and Noble brick-and-mortar bookstores.
Click on earth facts to go back to the top of this page.
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*Synopsis, Tribes of the Orange Sun: Future scientists, struggling with population growth problems and the ruin of Earth's natural environment, devise an ambitious plan to manage further growth of human numbers. Earth Government hastily implements the plan for space colonization - the only alternative, forced population control, is not politically attractive. Adam Hampton, the newest member of the project's organizing team, objects to an overly optimistic use of old and some very new technologies. He suspects that the plan is fundamentally flawed, that the lives of the many young volunteers are at risk. But, in the beginning, he cannot point to anything specific. He can only watch and wait while three of his best friends - and millions of others - begin what they believe will be a great adventure and a new life. The eager volunteers reach their faraway destination, but events don't go as planned. They must soon fight for bare survival - against an ancient menace that had plagued growing populations, man and animal alike, since life first began.
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*Synopsis, Pale Yellow Sun: The people of Emil, living a relatively idyllic life in a bountiful land, learn that they will soon face great change. Like it or not, they must end their isolation and become entangled in the most critical problem menacing the rest of civilization. All of their concerns, both societal and personal, have to make way for the new challenge. Andy Landis is a young engineer recently graduated from prestigious East Quadrant University. He has been offered a great new job, and is just beginning a romance with a young woman he has known since childhood. His plans take a turn when he is asked to take part in a decision crucial to his society's future. He soon learns that the choice will be between the ruin of his beautiful homeland and mass murder - and suspects that the decision could be his alone. To make this terrible choice, Andy must uncover secrets from that society's tragic early days.
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*Synopsis, White Sun Chronicle: The citizens of crowded Earth, struggling to deal with environmental degradation and lifestyle changes, face a more crushing blow: world hunger. The global food supply is destroyed and the people flee the cities in a bid for survival. Hungry refugees find that the only plentiful source of nourishment is what had been, until recently, unthinkable. Neil Silvers, a senior member of the Earth Senate, is one of a lucky few who find sanctuary in a secure building as chaos reigns outside. While he contemplates the fate of the world, he also dreams about Laura, a young, red-haired junior senator with intriguing green eyes. The group’s food supply soon runs out. Neil, Laura, and a handful of others must venture outside to face a world where humans compete with each other as never before. Neil and what’s left of humanity confront their darkest fears and soon learn what survival is really about.
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Site Map
| Books about the Future | Online Novels | Future World |
| Tribes of the Orange Sun | Pale Yellow Sun | White Sun Chronicle |
| Over Population | Space Colonization | Earth Facts |
