Where is everybody? Written by Edward Ashpole:
Published By Sigma Press:
Price £6.95 (Pbck)This is a stormer of a book? And it's a pleasure to read a book about science and the possibility of life in outer space by an author who certainly knows his stuff. Edward Ashpole has been a science writer for over 25 years and studied intensely the possibility that mankind is not alone in the universe. This book sees the culmination of his study, and looks into many aspects of inquiry. He firstly informs the reader about his early growing interest in matters relating to space, those Dan Dare episodes back in the 50's, have lots to answer for!
The author looks at the possibility of life on other worlds, and what conditions would be best suited for their existence, indeed what would or not, be habitable, the conditions we face here on earth, are fine for us, but may not be well suited for any visiting 'aliens'! The author then looks at the possibility of 'alien' exploration and colonization. Is it feasible? The author believes that it's highly unlikely that superior intelligent beings would use up the best part of their lives to get here, and 'not' make any contact.
The author also looks into early mankind's fascination with space and the possibility of 'other worlds'. The ancient astronauts are looked at, (was mankind visited in the past and assisted by an alien technology, who perhaps even built the pyramids?) The face on Mars is also looked at as is the possible evidence of artefacts left on the moon.. He informs the reader of what actually forms a planet and what can be expected to sustain life there. This book looks at so many different aspects of space, planets, possible alien life forms, that I would need to write a book just to review them!
There is so much covered here, that I cannot think what the author might have left out. The SETI programme is also covered, (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence), and the author explains about this programme and their search for extraterrestrial ' signals' amongst the 'noise' of interstellar space. No mean achievement I can tell you. And what exactly are we looking for. E.T.s may be too well advanced to use radio signals as a means of communication, they may have developed an entirely new means of communication, something which we cannot envisage! Would we recognize it?
Perhaps we are so small and insignificant a species, that any visiting 'aliens' might only see us like chimps, why would they want to leave us a calling card? There is a lot of 'ifs and buts' in this book, that was always going to be the case. Due to the sheer thought used in this book, and the many avenues explored, this has to be the definitive book on the quest for mankind's cousins. Are they ' out there'? This book will make you wonder. It's an absolute 'cracker'.