Just as the US and the USSR have finally settled their; differences, American scientists discover that the Solar System is about to pass through a cloud of cosmic dust that will incite the Sun to a paroxysm of fury. All will die.There can be no escape--except, possibly, for a very; few.This is their story.WHO WILL SURVIVE?RussCorey—Financier and founder of the Moon's first self-sufficientoutpost. Hestia will be safe haven for the few who can reach it in time.Marc Seavers—Hero of an Antartic disaster, now assigned as Mission Commander for the great escape from Earth.PresidentGeorge Starling—Leader of the most powerful country on Earth—but evenhis armed forces will turn against him when personal survival is atstake.Vasily Tereshnikov—Commander of the escape ship Pegasus, yet secretly under the orders of Russia's premier.Thousands of men and women will sacrifice their lives to save a fraction of the human race... but who will survive?