The Asterist - by A T Sayre (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Dull days drift by at the dead end of the galaxy for misanthrope Bill Jeffries. While fulfilling his mundane duties as an Asteroid Station Commander, or "Asterist," everything changes when his only companion, the monotone computer he has nicknamed "Nag," alerts him to a spacecraft that has crashed near the station.

Thrust into circumstances beyond his pay grade, Jeffries investigates the 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 must decide 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 an unlikely bond grows.

With the alien's life in his hands, Jeffries must discover what extreme lengths he will go to as he races against the clock to understand its origins before his superiors arrive to determine their fate.

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

"The Asterist is as meticulously detailed in its observations as any hard science fiction fan could want, as nail-biting in its mysteries and twists as any connoisseur of suspense could ask for, and packs an emotional wallop to boot."
--Mike Allen, Shirley Jackson Award-nominated author of Trail of Shadows

"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

"Sayre delivers a refreshing 21st century take on a classic tale of first contact."
--Lawrence M. Schoen, author of Barsk: The Elephants' Graveyard

"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

"A.T. Sayre certainly delivers what you'd expect from the best hard science fiction first contact tales, but he's equally adept at inserting humanity into the narrative. This is a story that will leave readers processing various thoughts and emotions long after the final words."
--P.A. Cornell, Two-time Nebula finalist, author of Shoeshine Boy & Cigarette Girl and The Astronaut Among the Flowers and Other Stories

"[An] emotionally supercharged tale. The novel's big hook isn't the wonder-inspiring SF backdrop or the strange structure of the aliens (although both are impressive); it's the intimate relationship that evolves between human and alien. Sayre creates a powerful story about compassion and sacrifice that will have readers applauding."
--Kirkus Reviews

"Sayre puts his own spin on the first contact story with enjoyable results."
--Publishers Weekly

"Fans of Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary (2021) will enjoy this engaging tale of a man alone in a big universe as he tries to make sense of where his new companion came from, what he can do to communicate with them, and why their condition is degrading so quickly."
--Booklist