The Song of the Sirens

by Peter Cawdron

Genres: Science Fiction

308 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 24, 2026

Reviews

[Chuck Woodbury]

first contact may be the theme

… but how you get there is the story. You are always going to learn something in Peter Cawdron’s stories and this on is no exception. A colony ship in orbit in Alpha Centauri, a deep dive on Macbeth, embedded AI, teenagers bring raised and taught to colonize, and what exactly is the nature reality. Fascinating tale.

[Phil Bailey]

The Song of the Sirens is another smart, entertaining, adventurous, thoughtful take on science, first contact, and human nature by Peter Cawdron.

The story drew me in from the start with initial prose that bordered on poetry, and ending with a twist I would never have seen coming.

Like Peter Cawdron’s other First Contact novels, The Song of the Sirens is based in plausible science, meticulously researched and explained in the book’s fascinating afterword.

[Richard]

This is the thirty-fifth book in Peter Cawdron’s First Contact series and I have read them all. Cawdron weaves an excellent tale, has interesting characters, and sticks with real, hard science. In addition, each book has an Afterword where he explains the science making it is one of my favorite things about his books.

When I wrote my review of Entropy a few months ago I mentioned that it was probably my least favorite in the series. Unfortunately, The Song Of The Sirens might be a close runner up.

I do need to put this into perspective; this is not to say that they are not worth reading. Mark Twain said; "Too much of anything is bad, but too much Champagne is just right." In the same way, there is no such thing as Cawdron book that is not worth reading.

There is a lot to like about this book - two great main characters, lots of twists and turns, fascinating insights into what life is and where it comes from, AI chips better than Siri, truth vs lies, lots of Shakespeare, a bit of The Odyssey, and a large dose of the good vs evil question.

So what is my complaint? For one it was a bit hard to tell what age the book was geared toward. It is told through the eyes of an adolescent but their observations are well beyond their years and maturity. Then there are the drugs and sex that fit will into the storyline but might be a little to NSFC (not fit for the classroom). Most of all I found there were some gaps in the storyline, as if he needed to fit a larger book into a limited number of pages.

So, you might ask, why am I giving this book four stars? First, as I’ve already alluded to, any Cawdron book is worth reading. Second, it is one of the most unique ideas for first contact I have read. Last, THE AFTERWARD - so much science explained in a way that readers can understand and appreciate.

[Propagation Of]

Meh

This author used to be very good at storytelling. I gave up trying to find a story around page 45. There might be a story later in the book, but looking for it takes too long. Philosophies on Shakespeare and other irrelevant topics are not my reason for reading this genre - it seems very much like word-stuffing to fulfil a publishing contract.

[Judith Trail]

I would give this a 4.5 rating. Cawdron continues to produce creative and fresh ideas revolving around the theme of first contact between humans and alien species, using the event to address social, spiritual, political and psychological issues that influence the outcome of that contact. The use of AI features heavily in this novel, its uses and abuses, but I would say primarily the latter. AI is useful in gathering factual information, organizing in such a way as to foster understanding. However, it is incapable of making true moral or ethical decisions about those facts nor can it substitute using logic to determine how the fact was initially established. The story concerns students at a school based on an asteroid circling a planet capable of sustaining human life. The asteroid was used as the ship to bring the students from Earth and they are "born" at age 16, educated and prepared to colonize the planet. Implanted with AI that constantly monitors their health, activities and location as well as providing immediate absorption of vast amounts of human knowledge and culture, they are jump-started into adult knowledge while in essence being days or a few years old. Alex was "born" with epilepsy, which is unheard of given the ability to control genetics. He develops a friendship with Lux and the two of them both feel growing unease with the amount of intrusive oversight imposed by their implanted AI. This unease leads them to investigate their life at the school and they uncover truths that change everything they thought they knew about their existence. A suspenseful story about understanding their existence is woven with philosophical observations about human nature, the nature of learning itself, and the inherent difficulty in imagining an alien intelligence and psychology are explored thoughtfully. Alex and Lux are very sympathetic characters, providing two different perspectives on the events they experience. This novel presents a thoughtful treatment of first contact, leaving many questions open to the reader's own answers.

[Zepp Jamieson]

The Song of the Sirens is Peter Cawdron’s 37th book in his extraordinary “First Contact” series, and in some ways, it may be his most ambitious.
There’s a lot going on in this story. In addition to another unique and original alien race, the story weaves a story of high school life on an asteroid 4 light years from Earth, an examination of how an omnipresent personal AI interface for all affects both teaching and learning, the social and psychological aspects of a cloned teenager who was literally born at the age of 16, the alienating effects that having epilepsy can have on an individual, and a look at the endless debate between free will and predestination.
All this is woven around the themes and storyline of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
Cawdron examines the role of AI on the processes of teaching and learning. Rote memorization is pointless when the answer to virtually anything is right at hand. There’s at least some elemental learning, basic arithmetic and life skills, that people will still need for times when they are cut off from AI, but in this scenario, a teacher could ask a five year old student what the Lorentz contractions are and the kid could rattle of the formulae, both pages. AI has the answers, but humanity has the independent reasoning needed to arrive at the answer in the first place.
The aliens are some of Cawdron’s best creations to date, unique, and both very different and endearingly similar to humans. They, too, have questions about what a human is and how it differs from AI.
This is not a novel to be read quickly or with kittens in the room. Take your time. Cawdron makes it worth your while.

[Robert A Geloran]

another great entry in the first contact series

Part detective story, part sci-fi novel, but totally a great story about life, evolution, philosophy, moral/societal awareness, and the grand scale of the universe. Peter Cawdron not only tells a compelling story of characters and plot arcs, but pulls in so many other cultural elements: music, art, language, law, and, of course, science, that it is more like a rich tapestry with many points to consider.
This book does not disappoint, setting the two main protagonists, Lux and Alex, on a journey to discover who they are. At first, they just get the feeling that things are not as they seem on their asteroid home above a beautiful world of vast oceans and islands. What they finally discover about their reality and themselves is heartbreaking. If you’ve enjoyed any of PC’s other stories, you’ll be very pleased with this one. If you haven’t read any of Peter Cawdron’s books yet, what are you waiting for? This is some of the finest writing available in science fiction. I love how Mr Cawdron makes the effort to explain his motivations, intent, and concepts utilized in the story in the afterword at end of the story.

[charles Kiskiras]

Life is Precious

Still have trouble contemplating neutron star mass and then to believe that they are common enough to gravitate together and collide to form higher AW elements that are essential to the formation of life. And yet here we are. Not incredulous enough of ourselves yet to end our mindset of violence that is based on survival. This new First Contact book is one of Peter’s best as it’s set in a far-flung future with “magic” technologies and advanced life forms and also presents the incredibly rich and creative expressions that Humanity has to offer other life present in the Milky Way. Peace and Grace.

[Jerry]

Entertaining and Educational

Peter Cawdron at his best. Another unique and entertaining take on first contact. While entertaining us he provides a very clear look at relativity and a refresher on Macbeth with a little twist of Odyssey’s sirens brought in. AI is truly singing a Siren’s song. Complete with the rocks of destruction. But he always leaves a hint of hope.

[Rob]

Another masterpiece!

As usual, Peter has delivered a thinking-person’s novel. This is not about who has the best weapon, nor about body count. This is intelligent, intellectual, well-researched, well-reasoned, engaging and compelling story telling. He is, without doubt, my favourite author. Five stars isn’t enough!

[Kristi Helgeson]

The best yet from Peter Cawdrons First Contact series.

Peter Cawdron's best yet. It makes me yearn for our main character's evolution to be seen in more detail over a couple hundred more pages...or a couple books. Easy right?

[David J Styles]

Excellent

Another cracking story from Mr Cawdron who never fails to deliver the best. An excellent story with well crafted characters. Thoroughly enjoyed it and definitely recommend it

[F Donghi]

damn now..

I have to go read Macbeth. Thank you for the great book Peter.

Highly recommend reading this Tale of the sirens call. The Song of the Sirens is an interesting read I hope you gain as much from the story, if not more. Enjoy.

[Nick]

astonishingly good

Cawdron is a superb writer. His First Contact stories are always imaginatively crafted and never fail to entertain, surprise, and reflect.

[Terry J. Ahl]

Excellent book to read

This book is well researched as well as full of human (and alien) interest. I think just about anyone would enjoy it.

[Robert Lund]

Nicely Done

A few twists and turns, awesome read and a great ending. Can’t wait for the next first contact scenario to come out

[Mike]

amazing! again!

i really cant fathom how Peter comes up with these awesome plots/stories, each one takes you to a completely different level of enjoyment of reading.

[Allan Segal]

One of his best, with interesting original ideas.

[Jojo]

Worth your time..

Another excellent idea, and well executed... A gifted imagination, and well told tale. The use of Shakespeare, in sci fi...brilliant!

[Laszlo]

Read it during a train travel, was not impressed too much.

[Uread]

A 5,000-word short story should be enough!

[Robert Moss]

Well written, as usual. A nice existential exploration through the pages of Macbeth. Nicely done.

[Jane Balke Andersen]

I have read many of the First Contact novels and enjoyed them. This one I gave up waiting (at 50%) for a story get underway instead of just science and philosophy discussions. Very disappointing.