Heir Apparent

"Heir Apparent" by Alan Edward Nourse is a science fiction story about a young man's difficult choice between pursuing his dreams of space exploration and staying with the woman he loves. The book follows Bart, who desperately wants to be an astronaut and explore the unknown, but this ambition creates problems in his relationship with Marny. She worries about his safety and the possibility of him always being far away and as Bart tries to reconcile his ambition with his love for Marny, their connection is tested, forcing him to face tough decisions about what he truly wants in life, making the story a heartfelt look at dreams, love, and what people give up to achieve their goals.