On October 19, 2017, an object was spotted zooming past Earth, then around the Sun and on out of our solar system. Most astronomers and astrophysicists looked at the data and determined that this was a comet, albeit a highly unusual one. Avi Loeb wrote this book to make the case that the object was actually something quite different, a piece of defunct technology from an extraterrestrial civilization outside of our solar system, or a “buoy” or other type of device that moved through our system. I am not an astronomer, nor do I have the academic background to determine the validity of his argument. Nonetheless, we are the intended audience for his book, the tax payers who fund most of this research. Loeb believes we have a right to know the possibilities, and consider the ramifications of pursuing, or not pursuing, this line of inquiry.

Loeb has the credentials for making the case, a long list of directorships and positions to inform the reader that this is not a crackpot proposition. He also explores the history of such perspective shifts, the main one being Galileo’s declaration that the Earth and planets revolve around the sun, and that the Earth is not at all in the center of the solar system, much less the universe. As the astronomers of his day even refused to look through his telescope and honestly review the evidence, the rate of discovery slowed remarkably, and sometimes to our peril. In this case, how might our research, and our world view change should we seriously consider this object as originating from another intelligent species? Loeb explores these questions.

My one quibble with the book is his flat-footed discussion of how religious faith would be affected. He throws out Christianity entirely by citing the sixteenth century Spanish exploration and destruction of Central and South American cultural artifacts, with the motive of declaring them of the devil and heretical. Surely that episode alone would mean that Christians of today are incapable of entertaining the possibilities of intelligence elsewhere in the universe? Christians would probably go about destroying any evidence that did not support their beliefs, Loeb would have us think. I found that pretty insulting, narrow minded, and prejudiced.

Apart from this, he asks interesting questions about how important it is to consider the possibility of life elsewhere. He sees us as in a critical time period for our civilization, when we may ruin our only habitat through technological development, and the inability to settle differences as a species, in our own mutual best interests. Maybe many civilizations reach this point and fail to develop past this “filter”. If we could put some time and effort, in a united way toward exploration, might this not help us in the long run, and better prepare us should we encounter life from elsewhere? You will learn a great deal about the current state of astronomy research, how decisions are made to spend our money, and potential consequences for not taking this path. Why would we shun this possibility? It is an interesting proposal, and discussion. Recommended.