We Chose to Go

by Charles B. Smith

A signal. From deep space. Emanating from a rocky planet orbiting a star similar to our sun. It broadcasts for mere seconds before terminating, but within those seconds is buried a tantalizing and familiar message.

Rae Francis was only a little girl when Earth’s telescopes detected The Signal for the first time. A year later, when the same message returned, it set into motion a worldwide series of events which would come to define virtually every aspect of Rae’s life from that point forth.

She wants to know what’s out there. She wants to know who. If it happens in her lifetime, she wants to go, no matter the cost. Will she get her chance? Will she play her part in helping to finally answer once and for all the greatest question ever posed?

Are we alone?

296 pages, Paperback

First published May 2, 2015

About the author

Charles B. Smith was born, raised, and still lives in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. He has a wife, two cats, a house, and sometimes, brevity is a good thing. For more information visit him at http://www.charles-b-smith.com

Reviews

[Lindsey Sandberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautiful in its complexity, its characterization, and its obvious relevance. Eerie predictions about current politics and (true to the science fiction genre's purpose) believable events led me to fly through these pages. That this could happen isn't even the darkest part of the tale. I loved it from start to finish, through every thoughtful detail in terms of the science and every gory description. Well done, Char.

[cindy Lowes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Squeal needed even though there was closure

I have not read a book like this about the future of the world. I need a follow up following some people on earth and their view point of what happens during and after this storyline!!!!
Great writing and kept me wondering what would happen next.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free from Goodreads Giveaways. I did put off reading it for the longest time after winning it, but after some pretty serious lifestyle changes I added daily reading back into my routine; this was the first book that I decided to tackle and I'm very glad that I did. The characterization of Rae (and obviously others) was beautiful in that she wasn't just a run of the mill female lead with the usual cliche tropes. The society in which Smith portrayed was definitely different (in a good way) from what has become accepted by popular futuristic books; honestly, it seemed like a more realistic progression from today's world and made it more relatable in that sense. I think what I appreciate the most from this book is the ending; I was expecting a version of the same outcome that many other books would have done, but Smith didn't do that and I greatly appreciate that. I'm pretty sure that I've told nearly anyone who has talked to me to read this book because of how amazing it is. I hope to read many more books from Smith in my future.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The concept of the book was really interesting. I really enjoyed most aspects of the story. The one problem I had with the book was some of the very strong political messages it tried to push. While I was able to get over it I fear some readers might not be too fond of it