Photo Gallery
Here you will find pictures of main characters, the Snowy Mountains, Trinity Bay, the Red Rock Desert, and many other locations described in the story, along with additional material not mentioned elsewhere in the text. Scroll down to view all photos from the story, or view the slideshow. You may also listen to the music played at the Candlemas Dance.
Please click here for artist/photographer credits.
Music from the Series
Click on any title below to hear the song.
Click on any title below to hear the song.
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Terra Nevaia, the Land of Snow. This is the most habitable and pleasant part of the Moon, partly because of the surrounding seas, which moderate the climate somewhat. Just to the southwest of the Summer Isles, at the very edge of the map, is the location where Neil Armstrong first set foot on the Moon in 1969. Lake Okechobee is surrounded by mountains - the very high Snowy Mountains (northwest coast), Chocolate Mtns (west), and the much lower Black Hills (east). South of the map there are the high Altai Mountains jumbled with crater swamps; a very unpleasant area which was never developed except as an area for big-game hunters to go after genetically engineered "monsters". The Red Rock Desert is found to the northeast across the Sea of Serenity, and Desolation Island is far to the northwest across the Rainy Sea. The bottom edge of the map, just east of the Stormy Ocean, is the exact center of the Moon as seen from Earth. Terra Nevaia is a long peninsula (of which only the tip is shown here) and most of Nearside is covered in water. Rough Scale: 1 inch = 100 miles, or 1 cm = 65 km.
Isles of Venus
Many events took place on Eleuthera, Barbados, and Tortuga. The isles are really cooler and wetter highlands that rise above the blistering hot and bone dry desert known as the Cytherean Sea because the air is so thick it looks blue from the highlands. The purple shaded areas are the deepest and most dangerous regions. Kailua Kona, Hawaii
The survivors' chosen home, Kailua Kona was formerly the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii. A few things have changed since then, especially after the eruption of Hualalai in 2100, but it's very largely a historic city. Tyke likes it very much, and many episodes throughout the series occur here. Tycho McGrathTycho, or "Tyke" to his friends, is an advanced genetics student at the Florida Academy for Math and Science in Tampa. His parents were killed in a boating accident when he was four years old (or so he thinks), and ever since then he's lived with his cousins, the Carpenters, in Clearwater Beach. He likes computers and isn't above hacking a government database now and then. He tends to be a little bit quiet and reserved, with only a few choice friends, of whom Jesse Carpenter and Drew Breyer are his best ones. He doesn't consider himself very brave, but others have a different opinion.
Chris CarpenterJesse's oldest brother, Chris is eighteen years old and works with their father Philip in the construction business. He seems mild and even shy, but he has a thirst for adventure which might surprise those who didn't know him very well. Chris has a reputation for being almost suicidally brave. Tyke, Jesse, Drew, and Danielle generally regard him as the leader of their band of explorers, and Tyke especially admires him not just for his courage but also for his kindness. His girlfriend is Emily Rayburn, of Clearwater.
Tabby BreyerDrew's twin sister, Tabby is the only girl in the aerospace engineering program at the Academy. She is a brilliant student with a talent for mechanics, and she adores her brother. However, she can also be harsh and abrasive, and sometimes finds it difficult to get along with people. Tyke has often thought she acted as if she had a grudge against the whole world, although he does respect her greatly.
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Tharsis Region of Mars
Most of the book Elysium takes place in this region, within a rough triangle formed by The Redoubt, the Valles Marineris, and the Isle of Xanthe. Western Titan (A'rath)
The largest moon of Saturn is an unforgiving kind of place, but it's home to the cold-loving A'rum and their sometimes odd civilization. Most of the book Avenger takes place here. Danielle BlackDanielle has had a hard life. Forced to steal and to sell drugs to take care of herself and her nephew Derrick, she is also ready to kidnap him rather than let him die. Danielle has a love of adventure and a sweet side under the street-wise crust, and when the opportunity to better her life comes along, she isn't afraid to seize it with both hands.
Jesse CarpenterJust two weeks older than Tyke, Jesse is an aerospace avionics student at the Academy. He has dreams of leading the first expedition to Mars, if such a thing ever occurs. He runs five miles every day after school and likes to play sports when he has time. He also enjoys sailing his catamaran on the Gulf. Jesse has a sunny and likable personality and enjoys playing a country boy role now and then. He has been Tyke's best friend ever since preschool. His girlfriend is Leah Bartow, a student at Clearwater High.
Drew BreyerDrew is a medical science student at the Academy and hopes to become a doctor someday. He has been one of Tyke's best friends since ninth grade. Drew's grandfather was a member of the original survey team for the Lunar Terraform Project and the commander of Barnaby Station, where he was killed by a violent storm. Drew was named after him and has always loved all things lunar as a result. Drew is usually friendly but he does have a mean streak that can come out when he's stressed or upset.
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John Brooke Academy for Math and Science
Founded in 2032, the John Brooke Academy for Math and Science sits on one of the highest hills in the the historic Seminole Heights neighborhood of Tampa, on the campus of the former Hillsborough High School. Built in 1928, the building has been meticulously maintained ever since. The Academy has occupied the site since 2057. To the right is the Genetics and Bioscience building, where Tyke did most of his work. The Academy is named for John Mercer Brooke, a prominent scientist and naval administrator of the nineteenth century who was born in Tampa. He was instrumental in the laying of the first transatlantic telegraph cable, served as the chief science officer for the Confederate Department of the Navy, and was later a professor at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI).
Green Sand Beach
Located on the north shore of the largest of the three Summer Isles in the Sea of Tranquility, the green sand beaches were an awesome find for Tyke and his friends. Although patches of green sand do exist on Earth also, it forms a complete beach only at Papalokea in Hawaii, four miles from South Point on the Big Island. Green sand it formed from the mineral olivine (also known as peridot). It is found in volcanic regions, and the green sand forms because of strong surf action. Olivine grains are heavier than normal sand, and tend to get left behind when regular sand is washed out to sea. This sorting action produces a green beach over time.
Lake Boscovich. Tyke, Chris, Jesse, Drew, and Danielle jumping into the lake. It's a long way down!
Trinity Bay on the Sea of Serenity, home of many cypress trees and the delectable Blue Hamburger Crab.
Ukert Springs. The water here is consistently warm and it was partially developed as a tourist attraction, stocked with Doctor Fish and with access facilities.
Shady Lake, in the hills above Lakeside Station. On the far shore is a stand of cottonwood trees common in the sheltered canyons of the Moon. Surrounding the lake are rough hills and cliffs.
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Doctor Fish at Ukert Springs, nibbling on Tyke's feet.
Shady Lake Cliffs, near where the first jumps were made. Many of these whitestone bluffs exist in the area near Lakeside.
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Yucca Flats. This area is a few miles west of Lakeside Station and is a flattish area near the Peaceful River. In the foreground are two of the yucca plants for which the place is named. In the distance are the Chocolate Mountains.
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Yucca Flats, closer to the Chocolate Mountains, so named because of their color. This is not far from the place where Tyke and the others liked to go dune buggy riding.
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Lakeside Beach at Lake Okechobee, with an afternoon wind coming in off the lake. Emily Carpenter is about to go swimming.
Creosote Bush, found almost everywhere on the Moon.
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Golden Poppies, blooming on the hills above Lakeside Station in mid-morning. The bloom only lasts for a day or two each month.
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West Point, in the Summer Isles in the Sea of Tranquility. This is the westernmost point of the largest of the three islands, and the one on which all the events in the book took place. This is the rockier southern side of the coast. The green sand beaches are on the north shore of this island along the lagoon side. A few coconut palms are visible, which grow nowhere else on the Moon.
Tyke and Danielle, watching the sunset from a beach in the Summer Isles. Across the lagoon are the other two islands that make up the three islands, which are the rim of an ancient volcano. This island is the only one which is habitable.
East Point, in the Summer Isles. A view of the sunrise.
Snowy Mountains. In the center is Mount Silverspur, and to the left is Mount Bradley. In between them is the deep cleft where the Cabral crashed. Farther to the left is the Lake of Eternal Peace and the source of the Lucky River. To the right is a closeup of Mount Silverspur.
Grand Canyon of the Moon, between Mount Bradley and Mount Silverspur. This is the ledge on Mount Silverspur where the Cabral crashed, in weather very much like this.
Snowy Mountains, as seen from the upper Faithful Valley. From left to right, the peaks seen are Skye, Cloudyhead, and Steelytine, with Bradley just out of sight behind the tree. There are scattered ruins of a resort complex here, and the tree is one of the few live oaks to have survived the harsh conditions. Chris, Drew, and Danielle were forced to camp out in these ruins on their way to Barnaby Station.
Red Rock Desert
The Red Rock Desert lies on a broad peninsula north of the Sea of Tranquility, and is bounded on the north by the Rusty Mountains. The color of the rocks and sand is due to iron oxide minerals. The Red Rock Desert is known for its spectacular wildflower blooms each month, particularly golden poppy and blue lupine. Picture on the top left displays a stream after the morning rains; living things can typically only survive in the canyons along streambeds, or near the coast where there is moisture. Pictures on the top right and middle right display several of the famous spires. Bottom left is a closeup of the water of Emerald Bay, which is green due to large amounts of phytoplankton, which thrive in this environment. Bottom right is a picture of Emerald Bay itself.
Amos & Katrina McClendon, at a party in Tampa.
Lucia McClendon, age 4.
Johnny & Bethany Weiss, ages 19 and 16, at Johnny's birthday party shortly before leaving.
Veronica Carpenter, age 12
House - Clearwater Beach. Philip and Joan lived here with their four children plus Tyke before leaving for the Moon.
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Emily Rayburn Carpenter, age 18.
Hunter Bartow, age 12.
Tommy and Amie Anderson, the only ones left in their family.
Philip Carpenter, age 38
Hobie Cat. Jesse owned one very much like this in Clearwater Beach.
Lake of Eternal Peace. Located in a crater at the foot of Mount Bradley, this is the source of the Lucky River.
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