The Artifact

First Contact

by Peter Cawdron

Five hundred miles from the Mediterranean, deep in the interior of Libya, lost in the heart of the Sahara itself, lies an oasis trapped in the past. With no surface water, Harat Zuwayyah barely supports any life at all. The scorching wind howls across the desert, driving the sand and threatening to bury the village. Professor Susan Taylor excavates an Egyptian tomb dated to prehistoric times. She uncovers the mummified remains of a wealthy family that died on the trade route, revealing insights into a lost culture, but it's the talisman watching over the grave that causes her heart to race. Red eyes glow from the back of the cave...

FIRST CONTACT is a series of stand-alone novels that explore humanity's first interaction with extraterrestrial life. This series is similar to BLACK MIRROR or THE TWILIGHT ZONE in that the series is based on a common theme rather than common characters. This allows these books to be read in any order. Technically, they're all first as they all deal with how we might initially respond to contact with aliens, exploring the social, political, religious, and scientific aspects of First Contact.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Ebooks

314 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 15, 2023

Reviews

[Carolyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the notion of a whole set of books written by one author proposing different "first contact" scenarios. It is perhaps unfortunate that this is the one I started with, as this book is not good. About 2/3 of it describes the escape from Libya with the artifact, on the run from would-be kidnappers and murderers. LONG trek through the desert in a jeep. Only it turns out that none of that has anything at all to do with any first contact. In fact, there really isn't any first contact at all. They find the artifact, politicians and academics fight over it, the two heros of the tale get arrested for their illegal smuggling activities (duh), and the artifact is damaged, if not destroyed. Then there's a lengthy afterward in which another explorer finds another one. NOT plausible. For thousands of years these things have lain undiscovered and then two are found within months of each other? Then there is an aftward that goes on too long and is quite repetitive in which we find out that the aliens who built the artifact(s) aim to keep any species from leaving its home planet and will wipe out the species if necessary.That book's perspective (and so presumably the author's) is anti-science and anti-exploration. I might be willing to try another one, but I've got a lot of books that I wish to read much more immediately and chances are that I won't ever get back to this collection.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peter Cawdron somehow churns out the best hard science, science fiction at an alarming rate. The Artifact is the FOURTH book he released in 2023! Despite being prolific, Cawdron manages to do an amazing amount of research that keeps all of his First Contact books scientifically accurate.

Let me start with the afterword from The Artifact. In just twelve pages Cawdron gives a mini discourse on everything from the “singing” of desert sand dunes to Von Neumann probes to the Library of Objects to SETI to The Dark Forest. It is worth reading this book just for these few pages.

In terms of the storyline, Archaeologist Dr. Susan Taylor is on a quest to explore the possibility that there are Egyptian artifacts hidden in a cave in Libya. Accompanied only by her bodyguard, James O’Connor, she has set off to sneak into Libya and gather information that could be used to launch a fully funded, large scale investigation of a nearly impossible hypothesis.

Like most of Cawdron’s books, this one is action packed with events happening at a rapid-fire rate. These include conflicts involving traitorous allies, corrupt military, Boko Haram, and pirates. Along the way Cawdron weaves in an enormous amount of Middle Eastern history and sociology, archeology, astronomy, psychology, space exploration, evolution, and a little romance.

Like all of Cawdron’s books, there is an Epilogue which provides further insight into the story behind the story. These few pages give the reader a chance to review all that has happened in the story as well as leaving them with thoughts to ponder.

In The Artifact, Cawdron also includes a Postscript. In what is probably my harshest criticism of anything Cawdron has ever written, I found it distracting and unnecessary. The postscript gave Cawdron a chance to drop in some interesting facts about Scottish explorer Robert Burns as well as information about orangutans but I really wish he had not. By definition, an Epilogue is a section at the end of a book that serves as a conclusion to what has happened and, for me, that would have been a better place to end the story.

Despite this one criticism, The Artifact is the twenty-fifth book in his excellent First Contact series. I have read and enjoyed each one and, as always, am left nervously waiting to see if there will be yet another in the series. If you are new to science fiction, any of Cawdron’s First Contact books is a great place to experience excellent, enjoyable, and scientifically accurate books of this genre. For those of us who are long time Cawdron fans, he has, yet again, wowed us with an engaging, well-written, action-packed, and hard science first contact story.

[Steven · Rating 1 out of 5]

awful.

A short story padded out to novel length. Cliched characters. Predictable plot. Filled with casual racism and stereotypical Middle East tropes. Don’t bother.

[Ron Pope · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing...I expect more

Not up to your usual standards, very formulaic. Sorry to say, reads like a Dirk Pitt story by Clive Cussler, et al. The epilogue was the book...the rest was filler. Sorry Peter, you are a talented writer and I am a big fan of all your works, but this pales in comparison to what you've done or are capable of doing, IMHO.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another terrific book by Peter! Loved it, couldn't put it down once I started. It was a wild ride across the desert! I especially like the details at the end of the book.

[Kimmy C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again, a top read from prolific Australian author Peter Cawdron, who specialises in intelligent, accessible, and human science fiction.
Lost for millennia, discovered by a (female, and this is important) archaeologist, the reader is launched into a high speed adventure that can only be described as the love child of Indiana Jones and Romancing The Stone.
The second half delves into our human side - like a dog with a set of car keys, have a thing, what do we do now? We are toddlers in the scale of the universe, and our unbridled, childish enthusiasm, compounded with a lack of knowledge and a bit of academic argy-bargy could be our downfall.
As always, Peter’s writing encompasses easily relatable current issues (cultural sexism, the dangers of life in certain corners of the globe, piracy, terrorists), and then adds in the background the danger of overconfidence, of arrogance, of political posturing to a certain degree.
Thought provoking science and concepts, along with heart pounding action, this will be sure to entertain and inform, along with a healthy dose of the what ifs.

[Katie Matz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first sci-fi book and heck I need to read more of these! Fun action packed read and was thought provoking. Cannot wait to discuss at book club

[Kristoffer Jost · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great archeological action adventure with a sobering twist

This is yet another compelling and thoroughly entertaining story from the bright and talented writer PeterCawdron! I’m already looking forward to his next novel.

[chas · Rating 1 out of 5]

*Read to page 80 and continued to skim after that point*
look, great idea but poor execution. and so obviously written by a man. as spoiler free as i can be:

as an anthropologist (who has experience with archaeological digs as well as research in the field) whose favorite genre is sci fi, i was SO excited for this book.

however, this is not sci-fi. definitely action and adventure, but i was let down to find out the only sci fi element is the “artifact” itself. and it’s actually not a major plot point and isn’t mentioned hardly after its discovery. the main characters (archaeologist Doctor Susan Taylor and her hired gun, O’Connor) spend more time running away from the terrorist group that is after them.

how did they get discovered by a terrorist group? well they were sold out because of Dr Taylor’s blonde hair and blue eyes, of course (which the author first informed us of on page 2 as if this were a wattpad fanfic)

and hey, no woman (archaeologist or not) is going to wear their lacy underwear into the desert. it’s too hot and uncomfy for that. and i wouldn’t if i were wearing a jilbab especially. page 17, the author takes the time to let us know that Dr Taylor is,”… but it’s European and resembles a bikini at best. Taylor’s always enjoyed lace bras and streamlined panties, but she’s regretting her wardrobe in the desert.” i bet she is.

[Edward Imbrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

a gripping action novel

Jason Bourne meets Laura Croft and they take on Boko Haram. Peter Codron has told this story with his typical skill, but this novel is light on the aliens and first contact part compared to his earlier novels. Instead, we see swashbuckling adventure, well thought out and told. Thoroughly enjoyable.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the characters best when they were too busy being shot at to open their stupid mouths.

[Steve Buck · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Artifact by Peter Cawdron is the latest book in the First Contact series. Each book in the series is a standalone, so you don’t need to be familiar with any of the other books in the series.
Professor Susan Taylor has learned from one of her archaeology students, of a mysterious object found in a cave in Libya, and has hired James O’Connor, a gun-for-hire, to help her locate the find so she can verify its authenticity. What follows is a constant thrill ride of not only finding this artifact, but of extricating it to ‘civilization’ where it can be analyzed. Our two intrepid travelers are forced to make their way out of Africa, escaping the clutches of anti-West extremists, would be kidnappers, and Somali pirates, to bring ‘The Blazing Star of the Sahara’ to a safe destination. But little do they realize the dangers that still lie in wait.
I found The Artifact (First Contact) an engrossing page turner complete with valuable insights on humanity and non-humanity.

[Nancy M Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding ScienceFiction/Fact

As before, Mr. Cawdron’s novel is well-researched and relies on fact as much as fiction. Most really good science fiction can make the same claim. I found the Epilogue as interesting as the novel itself. I’ve read a dozen “First Contact“ novels by Peter Cawdron and have found something unique in each of them. I’ll be looking forward to the next one.

[Adam darrar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man Peter crawdon writes some of the best first contact stories in all of science fiction.

If you want a quickie but a goodie, read this

[Justin Redman · Rating 5 out of 5]

good read

A sequel would be great on this one. It had a lot of action, and really dreamy in to this page Turner.

[Rustybikes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a fan of Cawdron's First Contact series for a while now, and The Artifact is a brillant entry in the series.

It's a really engaging adventure, and there were a couple times when I was genuinely worried for Taylor's well-being. I mean, I know she's got plot-armour, but that cab-driver was pretty skeevy.

The Fermi Paradox is one of my favourite science/astronomy things, and Cawdron's treatment of the Dark Forest solution here was absolutely delicious.

[Hassan Clemons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't let the cover art fool you this is a page turner!

Give me more stars for those books that are both addictive and also educational haha what a great read! So much action, suspense, world traveling and just when you thought it was over, boom here's more awesome.

Great book! Looking forward to more of the (First Contact) anthology!

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read close to a dozen of Peter Cawdron's First Contact books, and this one follows a similar trend...I love the overall ideas of each of his books, but the unique and thought provoking ideas the books try and focus on get bogged down in an effort to flesh them out. I really wanted to like this book, and it started off promising, but as others have pointed out, the vast majority of the book isn't centered (or even tangentially related to) around First Contact. There's some dialogue and inner thought related to "the artifact", but until around the 80% point in the novel, there's almost nothing I'd consider science fiction. This would have made a great novella or short story, but it's almost like the author had an interesting idea (and the overall premise is interesting), but ended up wanting to make it a full length novel, so added a bunch of unrelated action to flesh it out. 4.5 out of 5 for the premise, 2 out of 5 for execution.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn’t love this one? Didn’t hate it either, but it’s just so much nothing for the most part. It DOES have The Mummy vibes for the first two-thirds, but the ending was a miss for me.

[Zepp Jamieson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cawdron, using his usual meticulous research, imbrues what might be an otherwise standard desert chase story a la Indiana Jones, turning it into a riveting and intriguing story where you feel you are in the back seat of a rusty old Jeep in northern Africa, sitting next to an impossible artifact, racing to escape murderers and thieves.
Then it becomes another amazingly fresh first contact tale, provoking thought and demanding the reader ask questions, something Cawdron excels at.
The epilogue is absolutely bone-chilling and you may never look at the stars the same way again. Cawdron manages to surpass David Brin's worst nightmares.
In the wake of "The Art of War" and "Ghosts" Cawdron continues to write at the very top levels of what science fiction ought to be.

[Rasmus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I waited 200 pages for this book to be about aliens and first contact, and once it did, it was fairly superficial, not adding much new perspectives.

The rest of the plot was fairly interesting, but felt like padding to make it long enough for a novel. Many times there were also subsequent paragraphs repeating the same meaning, without adding anything new.

In general the writing was fine but that, combined with points where the text straight seemed to contradict itself (it is probably radioactive, but not actually radioactive) to forward the plot in whatever way seemed most convenient, was super annoying.

[Gwenythe B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional !

It is obvious from the get go that the author shared many of his own profound thoughts in writing this novel. It isn't often that I have to backtrack sentence structures to analyze and deeply think about the dialogue. His two main characters are wonderful and face many obstacles in their adventure. It is my hope that this becomes a series with an ending that illuminates the inherent goodness of most of humanity.

[Brent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite Peter Cawdron book, too predicable.

[Reuben Robert · Rating 1 out of 5]

FFS, the author is a frickin’ moron and reviewers who consider this a science fiction book need to be publicly flogged by the ghost of Asimov. 83% (based on my kindle reader) of this story is a stupidly racist, stereotyped and plotless “adventure” through supposedly lawless and overwhelmingly corrupt Africa 😂 As an expat, I’ve lived in this part of the world for over a decade so I speak with authority when I tell you the author is a dumbass.

Importantly, if you replace the supposed “artifact” with literally ANYTHING else (a tribal mask, a large diamond, even a tennis ball) the story would’ve still worked 😒. It’s only after the 83% that there’s even supposedly any sci-fi at all. But it’s so stupidly thought out, that you’d have to be ass to find any of it entertaining or even believable.

Also - conveniently - everything our ‘heroic’ and very white saviours just happens to have exactly guessed the nefarious motives of our alien nemesis 😄 It’s so stupid, it’s laughable!

Worst book I’ve read in a long time.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It's fast paced story, mixing fun reading with intelligent, educational content.
*It does make some really interesting arguments about why alien life (assuming it exists) has not made obvious (easily identifiable) contact with the human race.

Lines from the book that caught my attention:

"But strength is more than violence. All too often, that's all strength is portrayed as in films, but violence is a poor substitute for actual strength. It's a copout. Strength is found in poise, in words, in reason, in attitude, in honor, in civic laws, in society, in honesty. Throwing punches might make for good cinema, but it's a failure of strength, not a triumph. She sits back in the seat, raising her head and sitting proud, portraying confidence and strength. He notices. He sees he cannot intimidate her and cannot lure her with lies. She might be wearing a burqa, but her posture tells him she won't be pushed around."

"Humans like certainty, black and white is always preferable over gray... When there's a lack of certainty, humans gravitate to either black or white rather than accepting the uncertainty of a dull, lifeless gray. Questions need to be answered, even if there aren't any answers just yet. Certainty is a placebo. Certainty provides comfort, even if none is to be found."

"... the tenacity of humans to adapt and endure regardless of hardship. With enough repetition , hardship becomes normal."

"Intelligence is far more shallow than any sentient being would ever admit, often being driven by emotions and instinct rather than logic. Compassion is a lie. Selfishness is the norm. Consumption drives life forward like a whip being cast across the back of a beast of burden. Life cannot help itself. Life devours."

"Intelligent species know of the destruction they bring. They understand, and yet them amble on regardless."

"Intelligence has its flaws. Intelligence is subject to instinct, and instinct demands self-preservation regardless of the cost."

"It is a close competition for limited resources that allows one species to succeed while another fails and falls into the fossil record... And what of an intelligent species that expands beyond its bounds/ What about a sentient creature that reaches past the thin atmosphere of its host planet? What of an animal that masters rockets and computations to explore the stars? What happens when there is no terrestrial competition anymore? When a species is free from constraints, what limits are there to its expansion?"

"Destruction is the reason for all existence. Life competes. Life consumes. From the smallest microbe to the largest animal, life feeds on life. As heartless as it may seem to an emergent intelligent species, life is ruthless. The nature of life is to dominate. To think otherwise is to deny the natural order."

If each planet's occupants are confined to their own planet - "By preventing others from spreading, they allow life to flourish in all its diversity.

Separately, I found the following fascinating -

"Since the advent of nuclear weapons, all modern steel is contaminated with radionuclides [versus low-background steel]. It can't be avoided. Trace amounts in the atmosphere are enough to contaminate steel when it's being forged." "So, all steel is radioactive? Everywhere? In everything? Above natural levels, yes. It's slight, but detectable, being the result of all the atmospheric testing in the fifties and sixties."

[Jas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peter Cawdron is one of this era’s masters of Sci-Fi, and ‘The Artifact’ is another masterclass in his standalone First Contact series.
The series follows Susan Taylor, a professor of Archaeology who has ventured into the deserts of Libya, to visit an oasis known as Harat Zuwayyah, and see an ancient Egyptian tomb dated back to 4500BCE. Taylor is escorted by a mercenary James O’Connor who is there to protect her in the harsh environment. Taylor and O’Connor enter a small village, under the control of Sheik Mohammed Ahmed, who has kindly offered to assist the Professor, as he too, is interested in what she has discovered.
Together, the Sheik and the Professor, along with O’Connor and a small contingent of the Sheik’s men, head to the tomb to see what mysteries it holds. Taylor finds the mummified remains of a wealthy family, and other fascinating discoveries. But it is what they find watching over the gravesite that is the real discovery. Under a death mask, is something that shouldn’t be in the cave, something that has remained buried with this family for over 7000 years. Something that after 7000 years, still has glowing red eyes that watch over a family long dead, and now watches those that have disturbed their rest.
As they are making their discoveries, another rival group attacks them, and things unravel. Suddenly, Taylor and O’Connor find themselves on the run, but Taylor has in her possession something that may well change the way we view things.
The Artifact starts out as an investigation of an ancient site, with this underlying mystery of first contact. However, before long, you are thrown head first into a thrill-packed action-adventure as Taylor and O’Connor face challenges to not only hold onto the discovery, but their very lives. The Artifact explores many of the cultural, political and social concepts of the region, whilst also covering many different aspects of the scientific aspects of the archeological find, and the mysteries that Taylor uncovers. There is so much realism and depth to the world building as a result of the research that Cawdron puts into each of his books, and it creates this extraordinary tale you just can’t put down.
Susan Taylor is a wonderful character, she has that slightly pompous British air about her, someone that is used to the cultured halls of universities. At the same time, she is also a brilliant professor, someone who understands the people and culture she has travelled thousands of kilometres to visit, and whilst she is naïve, she shows some real backbone when there is need for it. James O’Connor is another fascinating character, one that you initially assume is just the gun for hire, and whilst he is definitely that, there is far more to him, as Taylor quickly discovers. There are several other really great characters, as there always are in Cawdron’s books (the Sheik is brilliant), and they bring this book to life.
Cawdron continues to outdo himself, with 28 novels in his First Contact series, and he still continues to provide outstanding stories of exceptional quality that leave you utterly captivated.
If you love a good Sci-Fi story, but one with a bit of an action-thriller twist like Matthew Reilly or Michael Crichton, then this is absolutely worth reading, you won’t be disappointed.
Cawdron continues to be one of the generations must read Sci-Fi Authors!

[Mal Warwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

AN INGENIOUS EXPLANATION FOR THE FERMI PARADOX

The Great Silence. The Fermi Paradox. Two names for the same fact: no alien civilization has gotten in touch with us, much less showed their faces on Earth. That, despite the fact that the Milky Way galaxy consists of an uncountably large number of planets circling hundreds of billions of stars, and despite the likelihood that intelligent life has arisen a great many times somewhere among them. But why? What could possibly explain this? To gain purchase on these questions, Australian science fiction author Peter Cawdron offers perspective. In twenty-five standalone novels to date, Cawdron has explored the innumerable forms that First Contact might take. And in his latest effort, The Artifact, he offers a fresh and ingenious explanation for the Fermi Paradox.

A PERILOUS JOURNEY THROUGH THE SAHARA

The novel opens in an exotic setting. Archaeologist Susan Taylor, a professor at the University of Wales, has slipped into southern Libya accompanied by an American mercenary bodyguard named James O’Connor. She’s searching for an ancient Egyptian tomb deep in the Libyan Sahara. And when at last the two arrive at the cave where two royal mummies are stored, she discovers an anomalous artifact.

Susan had been certain the tomb existed. One of her students had discovered it. But also there were rumors about “The Blazing Star of the Sahara” that merited investigation. “Crumbling hieroglyphics from Shaddah and Wadi Halfa along Lake Nubia on the Nile recorded a meteorite striking to the West out in the desert in roughly 5000 BC.” And now that meteorite lays mere inches from her hands. But it’s not a meteorite. It’s clearly an object fashioned by intelligence. An artifact.

AN ALIEN ARTIFACT UNTOUCHED FOR SEVEN THOUSAND YEARS

The artifact is perfectly spherical. Silver, and as shiny as a mirror. With a glowing red band around its equator. And warm to the touch. Yet it’s lain ignored at the back of the cave for seven thousand years because, to the local people, it’s the work of Satan. It is, without question, of alien origin. And now, somehow, Taylor and O’Connor set out to carry the artifact more than a thousand miles back through the desert to a city where they can connect with scientists capable of studying it. And therein lies the tale. Nothing is easy along the way. Nothing. If anything can go wrong on their way back, it’s certain to happen.

We can be sure they will at length deliver the artifact to a team of astrophysicists with the tools to explore it. But we don’t have a clue what surprises are in store for us. Prepare yourself for an adventure—and an intriguing explanation for the Fermi Paradox—if you read this fascinating novel.

[John Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually write a review about the author's writing skills and leave the story to be read by the reader instead of regurgitating the basics for the reader. But this story is so different from most of Cawdron's work, it needs a bit of discussion.

Peter has attacked the idea of First Contact from many different angles, and as Mal Warwick stated, has probably thought about the subject more than any other author. In this story, he poses an answer to Fermi's question, "Where is everyone?" by way of the Dark Forest theory. If you are unfamiliar with the Dark Forest postulate to explain why we have never been approached by aliens to show that we are not alone in the universe, then read this book, and you'll get your explanation. But it won't come until the end. Well, really, the second ending. The book has three.

This book is an action travelogue more than a book about aliens and First Contact. If you want a story about aliens, this isn't it. Or how we would deal with them if they appeared, which is what most of Cawdron's books are about. This is about finding an alien relic and wondering what to do with it. But the story is more about what happened to the archeologist who found the relic from the time it was found until it was turned over to the authorities.

I said this book has three endings. Actually, it tells three different stories, all about the same subject, and then lets the reader ponder what happens after the last story ends.

This is a page-turner full of action, a departure from Cawdron's usual statements about society. If you have grown disenchanted with the political statements or preaching, as some readers have called it, that can be found in many of Cawdron's later books, give this one a try. It is quite different but very enjoyable. I have to admit that I enjoyed the book so much, I turned around and immediately read it a second time to make sure I didn't miss anything on the first pass. Peter Cawdron is known for his character development in his stories, and this book does not disappoint. In every book of his that I have read, I get the feeling I just went through the story with the protagonist, and know him or her like a friend. He puts the reader in the story along with the characters that he has developed well enough that you almost know what they are thinking.

This is definitely a book to add to your Cawdron collection.

[yasmin kayce · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is a very compelling story. by the end, the author shows you how the story you finished is a piece of a larger whole, and you can see that the experience was bigger than the characters who experienced it.

i loved the thought that went into this, and the ambiguity maintained until the end. i was surprised that this was only 300 pages, it’s a true testament to how much you can accomplish and build in so few words.

the writing itself was not fantastic, in my opinion. i found the main character to be very obviously written by a man, and the details the author chose to include were sometimes confusing. the story kept me going, but there was a lot of slow periods where i couldn’t tell where the story was going. i actually like a little bit of “pointless” imagery and story telling, but i felt like some of these periods lacked focus/direction.

the most impressive writing was the epilogue. i could tell this was the authors main inspiration, and it had a really nice effect on the story we had just finished. i did like the choice to separate this into story, epilogue, and postscript, but the postscript was far too long. as soon as it started we knew where it was going, so it did not need to be another 45 minutes of reading. additionally, i expected a time jump or even for this section to pre-date the main story, but the fact that it was not long after the first story wraps up and the archaeologist does not recognize the artifact from the publicized viewing of the first was unrealistic. it would’ve been better for him to recognize it for what it was but still be interested in examining it since no one got any true answers the first time around.

overall a great short story, and definitely worth the read if you’re looking for a stand alone sci-fi.

[Robert A Geloran · Rating 5 out of 5]

great story, and just a bit scary

Another marvelous tale of first contact by master storyteller Peter Cawdron. As many of the stories in this series, this one is more about people’s reactions to aliens and first contact than about the aliens or their, um, representatives. In this case, an apparently ancient artifact.
Mr Cawdron weaves in intricate details about places most of us rarely get to see, such as, living in and around the Sahara Desert and the nomadic life of some of the Arab tribes that eke out an existence there.
Discovered by archaeologist Dr Susan Taylor, along with hired gun and former military operative James O’Conner, the artifact is an enigma. It does not appear to be actively doing anything except softly glowing. The challenge for the pair is to smuggle it out of the desert, avoiding feuding paramilitary groups and terrorist factions so they can bring it before other scientists for analysis. It slowly becomes clear the device is some kind of puzzle or test, possibly it may enable communication. Then the question becomes “who is calling and why?” The story does take an imaginative yet dark view on the Fermi Paradox with an answer for “where is everyone?” Very much reminded me of how I felt after reading “The Dark Forest” by Cixin Liu.