Steve Brezenoff - A Hole in the Dome

Michael Dahl has written about werewolves, magicians, and superheroes. He loves funny books, scary books, and mysterious books. Every Michael Dahl Presents book is chosen by Michael himself and written by an author he loves. The books are about favorite subjects like monster aliens, haunted houses, farting pigs, or magical powers that go haywire.

Why would humans want to live on other worlds? Well, because its cool! And because scientists could better explore planets and moons if they lived on them. A dome might be the best home for those space pioneers.

A dome is the most efficient and cheapest shape for space shelters. Domes need fewer parts than traditional Earth buildings. They can be inflated from small, light packages carried on rockets. A domes weight is spread evenly throughout its shape, and not in just a few places. This means it could last a long time.

The domes would need to be tough, though. Earths thick atmosphere burns up small meteors that fall to the ground. Not all planets are as lucky. A meteor the size of a tennis ball could rip through the plastic of a dome wall and let out all the oxygen!

But the hardest part of living in space could be loneliness. You couldnt drive to a friends house. You couldnt have Grandma over for dinnerunless Grandma rides a rocket. Being alone for a long time can even cause hallucinations. You might see strange lights or hear voices from people who arent there... or are they?

(GUHST) a sudden, strong blast of wind (HAHV-uhl) a small, poorly built, dirty house (ihr-uh-GAY-shuhn) the method of bringing water to crops using a system of pipes or channels; also, something that helps with this process (JUHNGK-shuhn) a place where two or more things meet (OR-bit) to travel around an object in space (proh-TEKT) to keep safe from harm (ree-FLEK-shuhn) the image that forms when light has bounced off a smooth, shiny object (SOUND-proof) not allowing sound to enter or leave (TAM-per) to damage or make changes that weaken something or cause it not to work well (VENT) an opening that allows air to go out or into a closed-off space (WAYST-land) ugly, empty land where nothing can grow or be built

Steve Brezenoff is the author of more than fifty middle-grade chapter books, including the Field Trip Mysteries series, the Ravens Pass series of thrillers, and the Return to Titanic series. Hes also written three young-adult novels, Guy in Real Life; Brooklyn, Burning; and The Absolute Value of -1. In his spare time, he enjoys video games, cycling, and cooking. Steve lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with his wife, Beth, and their son and daughter.

Juan Calle is a former biologist turned science illustrator, trained at the Science Illustration program at California State University, Monterey Bay. Early on in his illustration career, he worked on field guides of plants and animals native to his country of origin, Colombia. Now he owns and works in his art studio, LIBERUM DONUM, creating concept art, storyboards, and his passion: comic books.

Three million light-years from Earth One was a blue gas giant called Bastion. The planet had fifteen moons. Some were quite close to the large planet, and some were far away. One in the middle zone: a red, dusty moon known to people who lived on it as Rodmark.

No one, it was said, could survive on Rodmarkexcept within the moons one huge city. The people there were protected by a massive dome of hard light. The not-quite-clear energy surrounded the city and stopped anything from getting in or out.

The domed city was named Lysande, from an old Earth One word that meant shining. People liked to say their home was a shining beacon in the dark and terrifying wilderness.

For that was what lay beyond the dome walls of Lysande. The rest of Rodmark was a horrible . Even the air was poisonous.

Only the toughest animals and plants lived outside of Lysande. There were stinging insects as big as dogs, with poisons that paralyzed. Plants grew leaves as hard and as sharp as steel.

Then there were the monsters. Each one was as tall as three grown men, and as wide too. It was said they moved so quickly that one could catch you, kill you, and eat you before you even knew it was there. Youd barely have enough time to scream.

But stories like that were never true, of course.

Inside the domed city of Lysande, everything grew. Or at least, everything the Lysandians wanted to grow. Elm trees, maples, ferns, and glorious green grass covered the land.

People of all races and beliefs made their home there too. All their ancestors had come from Earth One, hundreds of years ago. Although few people remembered that anymore.

Lysandes center was a busy downtown, with skyscrapers that nearly tickled the top of the dome. Around the downtown, small neighborhoods dotted the landscape. Each had winding streets or perfect grids. Each was also filled with friendly people who were outgoing and kind, or else knew when to leave their neighbors be and respect others privacy.

That was the sort of place Lysande was. It had something for everyone, and each of its residents was happy.

A city completely inside a dome needed factories too, and ranches and farms. One such farm sat on the east side of the dome. It was so close to the thick, see-through wall that you could practically reach right out and touch it. And at the start of one summer Florence Harrison, better known to her family as Flossy, did just that.

Dont tell Dad, OK? Flossy said to her little brother, Benji.

If you asked her, thirteen-year-old Flossy was old enough to play by the creek. But if you asked Dad, she would never be old enough, especially with six-year-old Benji in tow.

I know, I know, Benji said. Hed heard warnings like this from his big sister before. Benji loved the creek, even though it wasnt a natural creek. None of Lysande was natural. Everything had been built by the settlers.

The creek had no fish, no plants, not even a bit of algae. But Benji loved it all the same. It ran along the dome wall for the entire width of the Harrison farm. It kept their land safe from toxic elements that hid in the soil on the other side.

That was what Dad said, anyway.

You can see all the way to the bottom, Benji said. He was lying next to the creeks edge.

So? Flossy said. Its only like a meter deep.

The pebbles are pretty, Benji added, not bothered by how deep the creek was.