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Chief Science Officer, Terra Nova Corporation · IQ 250
Dr. Maria Maravilla
Dr. Maria Maravilla is the Chief Science Officer of Terra Nova Corporation, where she leads all research and scientific discovery. With an IQ of 250, she is regarded as the foremost physicist of her generation and the world’s leading authority on Dark Matter.
A four-time Nobel Laureate in Physics, she received her first Nobel Prize for inventing Dark Matter Drive propulsion, the engine that enables travel at three Niner, 99.999% of the speed of light. She earned her PhD in physics from Princeton University at sixteen, became a full professor of physics there, and is fluent in several languages.
SVP Research & Design, Terra Nova · IQ 170
Dr. John Smith
An athletic CalTech PhD in physics (magna cum laude) who joined Terra Nova straight out of college. His exceptional leadership quickly made him senior vice president of all research and design and head of Project Prometheus, at Terra Nova’s secret base on the dark side of the Moon.
John has always admired Maria’s papers. Prometheus is over budget and behind schedule, and only she can solve the Quantum Pinch Magnet. He is destined for something far greater than a starship, and Maria will become his wife.
Dr. Christine Martínez
Professor of Computer Science, Princeton
Maria’s best friend, also from Lima, and the world’s leading expert in quantum computer encryption. She has an abundance of common sense and a wit that can bring people to tears, and she is one of the few people who can put Maria in her place at a moment’s notice.
Dr. Sri Srinivansan
CEO, Terra Nova Corporation
The world’s first trillionaire, an MIT physicist whose Fusion Reactors, Fusion Drive and humanoid androids made Terra Nova the richest company on Earth. Ruthless, generous and impossible to read, he will go to any extent to get what he wants.
Dr. Jonas Prescott
President, Princeton University
Has almost blind faith in Maria. He champions her papers and relies on her beauty, charm and speaking ability to win large donations. The two are partners in crime when it comes to donors.
Dr. Igor Cominski
Nobel Laureate in Physics, 2160
The world’s expert in high-energy superconducting magnetics and John’s former PhD advisor at CalTech. He joined Terra Nova to help design the Quantum Pinch Magnet.
Dr. Tony Rosen
Professor of Physics, Princeton
Loves teaching undergraduates with compelling demos and storytelling. He lunches with Maria and Christine every day and keeps giving Maria teaching advice, which she finally starts to take.
Antonio Monticello
A romantic in Florence
An older gentleman Maria meets by chance in Florence. He is full of the romantic advice Christine never gives her: “Every man wants to see his own mother in the woman he marries.”
Dr. Jimmy Bourdain
Maria’s graduate student
A brilliant student whom Maria advises to his PhD in physics at twenty-four. The two become friends.
Dr. Paul Boston
Maria’s graduate student
Helps Maria discover the Anti-Higgs Boson, and his name appears on almost all of her papers. He is in no hurry at all to graduate.
Admiral Manuel Sanchez
Rear Admiral, Space Command
A Carnegie Mellon computer scientist in charge of next-generation space weapons and vessels at the Pentagon, later given command of the Moon command center.
Alexis Smith
Biochemist
John’s only sibling. The two are very close and talk constantly.
Kitty Commando
“KC”, Maria’s white Persian
Attends Maria’s classes and gets fed caviar whenever he looks hungry.
Taco
John’s teacup chihuahua
Chosen by Maria because he was no threat to KC. John really wanted a German Shepherd.
Also appearing
- FBI Special Agent Fredrick Felix, who helps Maria and John throughout the story.
- FSB Agent Ivan Romanov, who looks after KC and brings Maria flowers from Russian President Tarasov.
- Dr. John Philips, the future President of Princeton when Maria returns from Gliese 581G.
- Brent Barbero, Maria’s 12-year-old cousin, who can always get the best of her.
- Dr. Hazwell, head of CERN and gatekeeper of the International Physics Committee, and Maria’s professional nemesis.