The Asterist - by A T Sayre (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Dull days drift by at the dead end of the galaxy for misanthrope Bill Jeffries fulfilling his mundane duties as an Asteroid Station Commander, or "Asterist." But everything changes when his only companion, the monotone computer he has nicknamed "Nag," alerts him to an unknown spacecraft that has crashed near the station. Thus begins A. T. Sayre's science fiction novel with equal parts humor and suspense.

Suddenly thrust into circumstances far beyond his experience or pay grade, Jeffries investigates the puzzling wreckage and makes the shocking discovery of a four-foot-long spider-like being inside. If the alien still lives, Jeffries and his superiors from light years away debate if it should be treated as an ambassador, a test subject, or a threat. But as Jeffries studies the alien and attempts to communicate with it, his cynical exterior begins to shatter and a bond grows.

With the alien's life in his hands, Jeffries must race against the clock to understand its origins and save it before his superiors arrive to determine their fate. Otherwise, both of them may be forced to commit the ultimate sacrifice.

Review Quotes

"This first contact story is touching and rare. The kind of book you will think about long after you finish reading it."
--Ann VanderMeer, Editor/anthologist of The Big Book of Science Fiction

"A relentless first-contact thriller about an average guy who never expected to accomplish much and a shipwrecked alien whose life he intends to save at any cost. I had a lump in my throat by the end."
--Adam-Troy Castro, eight-time Nebula-nominated author of Emissaries from the Dead

"What a hero's journey: to watch a grumpy curmudgeon strip off decades of bleak ennui to reveal complex layers of competence, scientific curiosity, excitement, and affection, as he learns to communicate with this wanderer in his midst. Fans of Murderbot's blistering sarcasm and Project Hail Mary's last-ditch problem solving will thrum to the themes of The Asterist. Pretty damned satisfying."
--C. S. E. Cooney, World Fantasy Award-winning author of Saint Death's Daughter

"A.T. Sayre has firmly established himself as a master of contemporary hard science-fiction. The Asterist is clever and funny by turns, and what I loved most was its deeply human and empathic core. This is the first-contact story we need right now, and one of the best hard SF books I've read in a long while."
--Matthew Kressel, multiple Nebula Award-nominated author of The Rainseekers

"A rollicking, nail-biting, Andy Weir-style adventure that never leaves an asteroid, yet underscores how humanity is the most precious commodity in the universe."
--Randee Dawn, author of Leave No Trace

"I put off reading the last ten pages for a day because I didn't want this story to end. The whole novel flowed with tension, with a mounting desire to learn more. This story is about decisions, the drive for communication, and a very humane desire to do the best you can when confronted with the unknown."
--Karen Heuler, author of The Splendid City

Praise for A T Sayre's previous publication, the novella The Last Days of Good People:

"With intricate worldbuilding and an exciting, engrossing storyline, A.T. Sayre knocked this one out of the park."
--Jonathan Brazee, author of the Sentenced to War and Federation Marines series

"Conservationism in the era of intergalactic travel isn't easy. Sayre imagines rebellion against convention to serve overlooked and vul­nerable life, no matter what it costs."
--John Wiswell, author of Someone You Can Build a Nest In

"An excellent example of 'just when you think things can't get worse.' I had to pause several times as the consequences grew, but found the payoff worth the delay."
--Gordon Linzner, founder of Space and Time Magazine

"An engaging tale that harkens back to a classic style of space travel science fiction--a wondrous other world, alien contact, real sci­ence, multifaceted characters, and a moral dilemma that hits home for today's reader. The writing is smooth and renders the unfamil­iar with great imagination and clarity."
--Jeffrey Ford, author of Ahab's Return and A Natural History of Hell

"A wonderfully written novel full of Le Guin vibes!"
--Yaroslav Barsukov, author of Sleeping Worlds Have No Memory

"A fascinating book that is more in line with the thought-provoking, cerebral meditations on society and more importantly what society could be that was synonymous with a different age of speculative fiction."
--Jonathon Ficke, author of At the Ravenstone

"Sayre does a nice job exploring weighty questions such as whether it's possible to be an impartial observer, whether conflict is a necessary driver of evolution, and whether cultural 'stagnation' must always be a bad thing."
--A.C. Wise for Locus Magazine