| Title | : | InterstellarNet: Origins (InterstellarNet, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0981848745 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780981848747 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 290 |
| Publication | : | First published March 12, 2010 |
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.
InterstellarNet: Origins (InterstellarNet, #1) Reviews
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Lerner, Edward M. InterstellarNet: Origins. InterstellarNet No. 1. Foxacre, 2010.
I love the future history premise behind this collection of narratively related short stories: What if SETI got a message from a nearby star in 2002. Your average science fiction writer would have used that as a jumping-off point for some sort of FTL or wormhole gate. But Learner is a much too hard-science guy for that. Instead, he deals with the problem of developing a common language and eventually establishing an information-based trade between star systems. Lerner’s background includes work in physics and computer science, as well as an MBA. He is thus able to ask some good questions about this kind of long-distance first contact. What information about ourselves and about our technology should we not trade? How open-sourced should we make the information we receive? What would be the impact on Interstellar communication on our economy and world politics? Finally, with disturbing prescience, he wonders how we might deal with an Interstellar ransomware attack. An alien AI would have it all over your average Russian cybercriminal. The book began as a series of stand-alone short stories in Analog. Lerner revised and expanded them, so they read a bit like a novel that follows one family for several generations. The stories are not always as tightly bound together as I would like, but they are generally well-plotted. I look forward to reading the second volume. 4 stars. -
loved the way this story and next one developed - Fabulous concept and story -"infosphere" - same term used in
https://www.goodreads.com/series/1261... -
Interesting stories, but the author's writing style needs improving - he doesn't always describe things very clearly, so the plot is not very easy to follow.
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An excellent "mash-up" of a number of previously published short stories to make a fascinating novel. A believable first contact story see through the eyes of the Matthews' dynasty which fits with what we know or believe is possible. I will read many more of Edward M Lerner's books as a result of reading this one.
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I love the idea of interstellar trade through signals rather than galactic beings meeting in person. Of course there are problems and one family that one way or another solves them over many instances and years. It became as bit complicated for me, but still like the overall idea.
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An interesting take on first contact, which takes place through radio signals. Enjoyable and entertaining, while also making you think.
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A good 'alternative history' after contact with ET in 2002. The InterstellarNet is the vehicle of communication and commerce among the species without FTL.
