The Killing Star

Rating:
Summary: The dangers of life in the universe
Review: A realistic answer to Fermi's paradox: "Why are They Not Here?". A space-faring civilization will have ships travelling at a good fraction of the speed of light. Such ships pose a grave danger to any inhabited planet. Because of the high kinetic energies involved, such a ship would wipe out life on a planet, were it to collide with it. In other words, a star-travelling ship is indistinguishable from a planet-busting relativistic bomb. What would a rational civilization do, given this scenario? It would lay low, and pre-emptively strike against any new neighbor. The situation is not the same as the state of mutually assured destruction existent on our planet. The first relativistic strike is not traceable to the origin, and is likely to be decisive. The answer to Fermi's paradox? They are all hiding. As for the book, it has an audacious style, which I like very much. An action oriented book on a grand scale with solid technical underpinnings.

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Summary: The harsh reality of an alien invasion
Review: Although not a perfect book (character development is a little weak), it's a must-read for all fans of science-"faction". If an alien civilization wishes to do us harm, we stand no chance at all. This is not a cheerful story.

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Summary: Planet-smashing action
Review: Every once in a while a book comes along that keeps you thinking for days and weeks after you've read it. The Killing Star is one of them, and I found its concept of galactic racial preservation by pre-emptive relativistic bomb strike both immediately obvious and absolutely terrifying. The technical aspects of the story are enough to keep even the most hard-headed hard sci-fi junkie satisfied. All in all, one of the better sci-fi reads of the year

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Summary: Totally Paranoic Bull
Review: I don't know what is the saddest thing about this book... If the completely paranoic and "irrationally animal" view of intelligent life, or the reviews I read of it, agreeing with these two subdeveloped writers, showing an equal level of hysteria...I think that a society wich develops such kind of people, with so "animal" logic, should really revaluate it's ways... Although the "scientific" background of the story is very well conceived, and the story itself is well written, I think that the concept showed by the authors is very "sick", and demerits any kind of real evolution of our kind, as such ideas expressed by the authors could be wide spread, and worst of all, taken as "good ones". I will never accept that our race is so "reptilian" yet, behaving like animals protecting itself against anything different... Maybe any other alien civilization should indeed destroy us completely, if we really think in the way the authors of this nightmare book... I hope that we really evolve beyond such paranoic delusions as such expressed by these Pellegrino and Zebrowsky

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Summary: This book is great
Review: I have read many books in my short life, and this is one of the best. It chilled me to the bone, I could not put it down. The plot was hard to follow, but by after a time, you stop trying to figure it out, and go with it. It all comes together in the end. The plot is so involved, so beautiful, so great, I broke into a cold sweat while reading. I was shaking when I was finished. This is oneof the best books I have ever read. If you want a realistic picture of what the future may behold, read THE KILLING STAR.Nothing I can say can do this book justice. Read it, and find out.

Rating:
Summary: Wow! Maybe SETI is not such a good idea!
Review: I read a lot. Quite frankly, most of what I read is trash. However, "The Killing Star" is one of a select few hard sci-fi novels I really, really, enjoyed. It is the only book I have read this year that I am still discussing with my friends. Get a buddy to read this book with you and the debate can be endless (i.e. a great choice for a sci-fi book club).The basic premise is that the search for extraterrestrial life (SETI) is frought with dangers. With some nicely done analogies and symbolism, the authors equate SETI to the the voyage of the TITANIC going full speed through fields of ice. Basically, the authors opine that any sufficiently advanced alien lifeform has no choice but to destroy any technologically advanced race it comes into contact with, so human beings should not be so eager to contact aliens by sending messages, radio communications, etc., into the deep reaches of unknown space. Why? Read the book. You will not be disapointed.

Rating:
Summary: Wow! Maybe SETI is not such a good idea!
Review: I read a lot. Quite frankly, most of what I read is trash. However, "The Killing Star" is one of a select few hard sci-fi novels I really, really, enjoyed. It is the only book I have read this year that I am still discussing with my friends. Get a buddy to read this book with you and the debate can be endless (i.e. a great choice for a sci-fi book club).The basic premise is that the search for extraterrestrial life (SETI) is frought with dangers. With some nicely done analogies and symbolism, the authors equate SETI to the the voyage of the TITANIC going full speed through fields of ice. Basically, the authors opine that any sufficiently advanced alien lifeform has no choice but to destroy any technologically advanced race it comes into contact with, so human beings should not be so eager to contact aliens by sending messages, radio communications, etc., into the deep reaches of unknown space. Why? Read the book. You will not be disapointed.

Rating:
Summary: Gripping hard science fiction
Review: I read this book in one sitting, I could not put it down. It is gripping hard science fiction that takes a hard look at the Fermi Paradox

Rating:
Summary: Gripping hard science fiction
Review: I read this book in one sitting, I could not put it down. It is gripping hard science fiction that takes a hard look at the Fermi Paradox

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant...Utterly Brilliant
Review: I'll keep this short...the authors present a brilliant but terrifying vision of what the universe might be like. The science in the book is visionary.