The Journey to Alpha Centauri: A New Frontier for Humanity
The idea of space travel has captivated humanity for generations, from the earliest stargazers to the pioneers of space exploration. Now, in Herman DeBoard’s Journey to Alpha Centauri, this dream of interstellar travel is not only possible—it’s a desperate necessity.
Set in the near future, Journey to Alpha Centauri tells the story of Galactic Horizons, a private corporation that has raised nearly one trillion dollars to build an unprecedented “space train.” This ambitious project will carry 100,000 humans to Alpha Centauri, leaving behind a dying Earth. The space train is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including cryogenic sleep pods, artificial intelligence, and self-sustaining ecosystems. But there is one undeniable truth: not everyone will survive the journey. Instead of focusing on just reaching a new world, this journey is about survival, sacrifice, and the survival of the human race across generations.
In the following excerpts from our exclusive interview, author Herman DeBoard shares insights into the inspiration behind this story and what readers can expect from the book.
The Genesis of the Story
“The idea for Journey to Alpha Centauri was born out of a question I couldn’t ignore: What happens when humanity has no choice but to escape Earth to survive?” DeBoard explains. “I wanted to explore not just the technological marvels of space travel, but the emotional and moral dilemmas that come with such a life-altering journey. The characters in this story face unimaginable decisions—decisions that affect their lives, their families, and the future of humanity.”
The book introduces a diverse group of characters, each of whom is chosen for their unique expertise to help build and maintain the space train. These characters—ranging from biologists and engineers to medical officers and cultural specialists—bring their skills, but also their personal struggles and moral conflicts, to this mission.
Dr. Eleanor “Ellie” Carter, a lead biologist on the space train, expresses the gravity of their mission in the book: “We’re not just building a spaceship—we’re building the future of humankind. And some of us will never see the fruits of our labor.” For Ellie, the mission is about more than just the technical challenges; it’s about the ethics of creating life in space, knowing that some will never return.
Moral Dilemmas in Space
One of the central themes in Journey to Alpha Centauri is the question of survival versus sacrifice. As the characters embark on their journey, they must confront the reality that not everyone will make it to their destination. In a world where future generations must be born and educated aboard the space train, the idea of “family” is fundamentally redefined.
As Captain Marcus Lee, the space train’s captain, struggles with leadership, he reflects, “What kind of leader sends people into the void, knowing full well that some will never come back?” This sentiment is echoed throughout the book as characters wrestle with the morality of their mission, knowing that their sacrifices are necessary to ensure the survival of the human race, even if it comes at the cost of their own lives.
The Humanity Behind the Science
Beyond the tech and sci-fi thrills, DeBoard focuses on the emotional and psychological toll of space travel. As the crew members adjust to life in space, they must find ways to form meaningful relationships and build new social structures. With no escape from the confined space of the train, they must learn how to live with one another, despite their differences.
Sofia Garcia, the cultural anthropologist aboard the train, observes, “The hardest part of this mission isn’t the science or technology. It’s the human element—the way we cope, connect, and create meaning in an environment where survival is uncertain.”
In a space where family units are no longer bound by traditional norms, the characters must decide how to approach childbearing, marriage, and even companionship in the context of a long, perilous journey.
A New Kind of Future
As the space train embarks on its journey to Alpha Centauri, the future of humanity is in the hands of a select few, and their choices will forever shape the course of human history.
“I want readers to walk away from Journey to Alpha Centauri not just thinking about space travel, but about what it means to live in a world where survival is no longer guaranteed,” DeBoard says. “We may be staring into the vastness of space, but we’re also staring into the vastness of our own humanity.”
Journey to Alpha Centauri is more than a thrilling sci-fi adventure—it’s a story about the essence of what makes us human, about the legacy we leave behind, and the unknown challenges of the future.
As the space train moves further from Earth, the stakes grow higher. Will they succeed in building a new world among the stars, or will humanity’s greatest hope be dashed in the cold vacuum of space? You’ll have to read Journey to Alpha Centauri to find out.
“One way to the stars. A lifetime of sacrifice. The journey to save humanity begins.”
