The Listeners tells the story of what could happen if a signal were received from an extra-terrestrial civilisation and asks the reader to decide whether projects such as SETI are worthwhile. (view spoiler)[At the beginning of the book the 'SETI' project has difficulty defending its budget. After a message is received, however, we see how secular / religious opinion and society changes once we realise we are not alone in the universe. (hide spoiler)]The book takes the long term view, following three generations of 'listeners' as they wait for messages from Space that will take years to reach Earth. I found this longterm look into the future fascinating and the book has definitely widened my horizons and changed my perception of the current SETI project.
(view spoiler)[At the beginning of the book the 'SETI' project has difficulty defending its budget. After a message is received, however, we see how secular / religious opinion and society changes once we realise we are not alone in the universe. (hide spoiler)]The book takes the long term view, following three generations of 'listeners' as they wait for messages from Space that will take years to reach Earth. I found this longterm look into the future fascinating and the book has definitely widened my horizons and changed my perception of the current SETI project.