The Long Sunset

January 29, 2018
Despite its placement in the 23rd century, this long but accessible and optimistic eighth volume in McDevitt’s series featuring interstellar pilot Priscilla “Hutch” Hutchins (after 2013’s Starhawk) recounts a very timely victory for scientific advancement and universal compassion over xenophobia. World Space Authority consultant Derek Blanchard rushes an exploratory mission, led by Hutch, to follow up on the source of a 7,000-year-old transmission that shows an alien waterfall and plays beautiful music. Blanchard hopes to find the transmission’s origins before the government—which is fearful of alien invasion and working to make deep-space exploration illegal—can interfere. McDevitt’s moderately humanoid aliens are almost comically pleasant and relatable, and his depictions of first contact are joyful and low on conflict. On the home front, he uses news headlines to wryly show an American culture that has changed little despite technological advances, juxtaposing worried stories about the expedition with those of celebrity deaths at more advanced ages, mass shootings at high schools, and fluffy reports of insignificant scientific studies. Academy fans will appreciate this solid addition to the series.

February 15, 2018
The eighth entry in the medium-future Academy series (Starhawk, 2013, etc.) starring expert spaceship pilot Priscilla "Hutch" Hutchins and her expeditions around a galaxy littered with ancient alien artifacts yet now seemingly devoid of intelligent life.Enthusiasm for space exploration is, however, waning, leaving a now effectively immortal Hutch faced with the dull prospect of making routine trips to known destinations. But then a probe more than 7,000 light-years distant picks up an alien broadcast. This, a video of a waterfall with musical accompaniment, immediately causes bafflement, excitement, and apprehension. Luckily, a new and very speedy spaceship is nearing completion, and Hutch anticipates investigating, along with space scientist Derek Blanchard (an obvious stand-in for Neil deGrasse Tyson). However, other scientists (McDevitt's scowl at Stephen Hawking and others), politicians, and demonstrators quickly grow more vocal and insistent that it's dangerous to risk attracting the attention of a possibly hostile advanced race. With the ship complete but untested, Hutch and scientists embark while the politicians order them to desist; they decide to ignore the command despite knowing that their careers are at stake. Once they reach their destination, there's no sign of the planet where, 7,000 years ago, the broadcast originated. Thus begins a whole set of riddles, as Hutch and company try to learn what's going on--there seems to be no other way to dispel the obsessive gloom and fearmongering back home. To be sure, this involves some obvious editorializing, with epigraphs aptly illustrating a discussion that McDevitt infuses with real warmth and understanding, bolstered by an unwavering conviction that paranoia is entirely the wrong reaction to a legitimate concern.Despite a slow-motion first hundred pages pondering whether the expedition should go ahead, a solidly engrossing entry in this agreeable and reliable series.

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March 15, 2018
Priscilla Hutchins is the captain of an interstellar crew sent to explore the origin of a mysterious signal from another planet. But there's resistance to the mission, as many believe continued interstellar exploration has become too dangerous. Hutch takes off despite opposition and embarks upon a journey that will lead her to discover new artifacts, alien life, and a looming celestial apocalypse. But this isn't an adventure story; it's a story focused mostly on people and how we relate to one another. McDevitt (Time Travelers Never Die, 2009) offers a unique take on aliens and how civilizations might arise on other planets, an unexpected and interesting choice in the realm of space-based science fiction. The active conflict of the story is political; unfortunately, McDevitt doesn't delve as deeply into this aspect of the story as he could. But his unique vision, the way his imagination plays across a galactic stage, and the inherent tension of an unavoidable disaster make up for it. He also introduces important new elements into his ongoing Academy series, making this a worthy read.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)