Book0 • 300+ pages • 5+ hours reading time
Answer, please answer
By Ben Bova
4.4/5(1975 ratings)
About this book
"Answer, please answer" by Ben Bova is a science fiction novella written in the early 1960s. The story unfolds at the South Pole, where two astronomers, drafted into military service, are tasked with monitoring meteorological patterns in the midst of an emerging global crisis. The book explores themes of communication, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, and the terrifying implications of nuclear technology. The plot revolves around the two main characters, an optical astronomer and his colleague Rizzo, as they discover an inexplicable, repetitive signal emanating from a nearby Cepheid variable star. As they decode this mysterious message, they uncover a desperate plea from an alien civilization that has developed advanced technology and nuclear weapons. The narrative becomes increasingly tense as they realize that the civilization is transmitting its history and expressing a fear of impending doom, ultimately revealing that their star has exploded due to a catastrophic nuclear event. The story serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of technological advancement and humanity's own vulnerabilities.
Language
English
Publisher
Project Gutenberg
Release date
Unknown
Downloads
131
More by Ben Bova
Browse all books by this authorExplore Science Fiction Books
Discover more Science Fiction literature
Click "Read now" to open in our Reader with AI features.
Community Discussions
Join the conversation about this book
Discussions
0 discussions
No discussions yet
Be the first to start a discussion about this book!
AI-Powered Insights
Intelligent analysis and summaries
AI Insights Available
Get detailed AI-powered analysis for "Answer, please answer" including character insights, themes, plot analysis, and more.
Summary
Characters
Themes
Analysis
Generation typically takes 1-2 minutes
Reader Reviews
See what others are saying
Reviews
Overall Rating
4.4
1975 ratingsBased on community ratings
No reviews yet
Be the first to review this book!
Readers Also Enjoyed
Discover more books similar to Answer, please answer