InterstellarNet: Origins
<b>When the First Call from the Stars Comes, Do We Even Dare to Answer?</b> Life changes for everyone in general--and for physicist Dean Matthews in particular--when astronomers detect a radio signal from a nearby star. First Contact forces humanity to face hard questions, and do it fast. Every answer spawns new questions. Every solution sets in motion a new and more daunting crisis to challenge Dean, his family--and an expanding number of interstellar civilizations--for generations to come.<br /><br />Praise for InterstellarNet: Origins: <br /><br />"Lerner mixes physics, computer science, and economics into a series of very intellectually satisfying puzzles. Some of the puzzles involve understanding the alien, and some depend on understanding ourselves ... A very satisfying read, especially for the intellectually inclined." <br />--Mike Brotherton, author of <i>Spider Star</i><br /><br />"One of the most original, believable, thoroughly thought-out, and utterly fascinating visions ever of what interstellar contact might really be like." <br />--Dr. Stanley Schmidt, Editor, <i>Analog</i> Magazine"<br /><br />Edward Lerner takes us from a first SETI detection to full scale interstellar net economics, with thrills along the way. No one had thought through what a working interstellar net would be like. Lerner has the professional heft to make sense of it, tell a story, and make us care. Good stuff, told in clear, quick prose. A groundbreaking job!" <br />--Gregory Benford, author of <i>Timescape</i>.