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Science of Aliens: The Real Science Behind the Gods and Monsters from Space and Time
Discover the real science behind 2001 , ET , Signs , and all your favorite fictional alien civilizations.
As space telescopes continue to search for life in this unearthly Universe, the crucial questions remain unanswered. Are we awake to the revolutionary effects on human society and science that alien contact will bring? And how is it possible to imagine the unknown? The Science of Aliens tells the compelling story of how the portrayal of alien life has evolved over time.
Taking examples from science, film, and fiction, this book showcases how scholars, filmmakers, and authors have devoted their energies to imagining life beyond this Earth. From Copernicus to Kubrick, The Science of Aliens is a fascinating account for anyone interested in extraterrestrials.
Otherworldly topics
Visualize the unknown and redefine your place in a changing cosmos with The Science of Aliens .
As space telescopes continue to search for life in this unearthly Universe, the crucial questions remain unanswered. Are we awake to the revolutionary effects on human society and science that alien contact will bring? And how is it possible to imagine the unknown? The Science of Aliens tells the compelling story of how the portrayal of alien life has evolved over time.
Taking examples from science, film, and fiction, this book showcases how scholars, filmmakers, and authors have devoted their energies to imagining life beyond this Earth. From Copernicus to Kubrick, The Science of Aliens is a fascinating account for anyone interested in extraterrestrials.
Otherworldly topics
Visualize the unknown and redefine your place in a changing cosmos with The Science of Aliens .
216 pages, Paperback
First published July 5, 2022
3 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 7, 2022
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Skyhorse Publishing for an advanced copy of this book discussing the science of beings from other worlds in the genre of science fiction.
Humans have always wondered what was in the night sky. Gods, demons, monsters from beyond floating above the Earth, strange lights in the heavens blazing back and forth. Humans began to make stories about them, for religious, political or just for fun. These tales all were based on what humans knew at the time about science, and about each other. Mark Brake, noted science writer and author of many books about the science of different fictional milieus has in his book The Science of Aliens: The Real Science Behind the Gods and Monsters from Space and Time presented an overview of how writings about aliens has changed over the years as man has become more aware and knowledgeable about the world around him.
The book begins in a museum with discussion about a large exhibition entitled The Science of Aliens which dealt with that question of us being alone in the universe. A brief description of SETI and other investigations into the search for intelligent life are discussed before we get to the basis of the book. How our stories about aliens and our contact with them have changed as man's understanding of the world and universe have changed. For example one early traveller to the moon used geese to carry him to the moon. From there we have ideas of solar sails, and even worm holes. Even the idea of alien biology have changed as humans began to have thoughts about evolution and even the study of bacteria in our bodies.
The book is very well written and researched with a lot of nerdy notes and ideas. The narrative is interesting, and never drags, nor does the science get in the way or become to textbook in the reading. What I found of interest was the discussions on early stories, the ideas of ram jet propulsion 400 years ago in story is intriguing. And the idea of Cyrano de Bergerac going to the moon just seems fun. Oh and the geese. I really liked the geese.
Recommended for science fans and fans of speculative fiction. The book reads very well, and has a lot of interesting ideas and facts that could send a reader into a rabbit hole of research. Also this would be a good book for writers to looking for ideas, or something to kick their imagination into overdrive.
Humans have always wondered what was in the night sky. Gods, demons, monsters from beyond floating above the Earth, strange lights in the heavens blazing back and forth. Humans began to make stories about them, for religious, political or just for fun. These tales all were based on what humans knew at the time about science, and about each other. Mark Brake, noted science writer and author of many books about the science of different fictional milieus has in his book The Science of Aliens: The Real Science Behind the Gods and Monsters from Space and Time presented an overview of how writings about aliens has changed over the years as man has become more aware and knowledgeable about the world around him.
The book begins in a museum with discussion about a large exhibition entitled The Science of Aliens which dealt with that question of us being alone in the universe. A brief description of SETI and other investigations into the search for intelligent life are discussed before we get to the basis of the book. How our stories about aliens and our contact with them have changed as man's understanding of the world and universe have changed. For example one early traveller to the moon used geese to carry him to the moon. From there we have ideas of solar sails, and even worm holes. Even the idea of alien biology have changed as humans began to have thoughts about evolution and even the study of bacteria in our bodies.
The book is very well written and researched with a lot of nerdy notes and ideas. The narrative is interesting, and never drags, nor does the science get in the way or become to textbook in the reading. What I found of interest was the discussions on early stories, the ideas of ram jet propulsion 400 years ago in story is intriguing. And the idea of Cyrano de Bergerac going to the moon just seems fun. Oh and the geese. I really liked the geese.
Recommended for science fans and fans of speculative fiction. The book reads very well, and has a lot of interesting ideas and facts that could send a reader into a rabbit hole of research. Also this would be a good book for writers to looking for ideas, or something to kick their imagination into overdrive.
June 16, 2022
When I was in my pre-teens I read all that was to read about aliens, the blue book, history is wrong, chariot of the gods, etc, I actually though this book would be kind of a remake or a modern view of this books that I have mentioned before, like Mulder, I wanted to believe, so aliens are kind of a romantic dream… but this book wasn't was I was expecting, its more like a glossary of books and authors and how they talked about life outside our planet… maybe I was expecting too much and this book is not for me…
I am sorry I couldn’t like this book more.
Thank you NetGalley for the free ARC and this is my honest opinion.
I am sorry I couldn’t like this book more.
Thank you NetGalley for the free ARC and this is my honest opinion.
June 30, 2022
When I was in my pre-teens I read all that was to read about aliens, the blue book, history is wrong, chariot of the gods, etc, I actually though this book would be kind of a remake or a modern view of this books that I have mentioned before, like Mulder, I wanted to believe, so aliens are kind of a romantic dream… but this book wasn't was I was expecting, its more like a glossary of books and authors and how they talked about life outside our planet… maybe I was expecting too much and this book is not for me…
I am sorry I couldn’t like this book more.
Thank you NetGalley for the free ARC and this is my honest opinion.
I am sorry I couldn’t like this book more.
Thank you NetGalley for the free ARC and this is my honest opinion.
December 25, 2025
I think your enjoyment of this will depend on what you expected from this. I don’t know exactly what I expected, but going through famous Aliens and alien civilizations in sci-fi and extracting scientific lessons from them isn't what I had in mind. I guess I was more expecting Science about alien possibility in general? I dunno.
June 14, 2022
I think this book is a must read for sci-fi aficionados and anyone who want to learn something more about sci-fi stories.
Well researched, full of information and compelling.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Well researched, full of information and compelling.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
October 21, 2022
A fun read about all things extra-terrestrial! With scientific breakthroughs, discussion of popular media, and the great question of what the heck is out there in the universe, Brake offers a fresh look at alien life for those beginning to dive into what is beyond our planet.
September 13, 2024
A fun read overall, very entertaining and informational at the same time. Brake does an excellent job of presenting a wide variety of popular theories about alien life through the lens of science fiction, using characters and franchises readers will recognise as examples to illustrate each one.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews