Ancient Shores

Ancient Shores, Jack McDevitt, Harper Prism, 1996

        This is the science fiction story of a North Dakota wheat farmer, who, one day, finds a triangular piece of metal sticking out of the ground. He kepps digging, and digging, and finds a 45-foot yacht buried in his wheat field. It's in good enough condition to look like it was buried last week, but has actually been there a lot longer, and is made of materials unknown to human science.

        The area quickly becomes a full-fledged media spectacle. After further digging, a large roundhouse, that glows at night, is unearthed. Inside are portals to several other worlds, one of which is christened Eden. By this time, the area, which is on Indian land, has become a magnet for religious fundamentalists, thrill seekers, legitimate scientists, and UFO believers. Several unsuccessful attempts are made by private companies to buy the site. Meantime, in the rest of the world, financial markets are in free fall, fearing new technologies from the site that will give new meaning to the words "lifetime guarantee". At the end is an attempt by the government to unilaterally seize the site, intending to limit, or deny, all further access.

        This is a really interesting and easy to read story that works from start to finish. It's very much grounded in reality, and is an all around great story.