This is an Authors Guild/BIP title. Please use Authors Guild/BIP specs. Text for author bio box: Please use author's bio. Text for book description box: A dying man's message sends interstellar explorers on a search for a lost alien civilization. "A splendid book. McDonough has created the most mind-boggling artifact since EON." —Arthur C. Clarke "McDonough's imagination is as daring as they come."—Locus "The imagination and scientific know-how of Clarke. I loved it."—The Midwest Book Review "High adventure in the classic SF tradition."—Science Fiction Chronicle "A feast of scientific imagination."—David Brin "A wild interstellar romp."—Charles Sheffield Author's photo courtesy of Cynthia Kumagawa, The Planetary Society Text for credit box: Cover: derived from Hubble Space Telescope image of Eagle Nebula, courtesy of Jeff Hester (Arizona State University). Original image created with support to AURA/STSCI from NASA contract NAS5-26555.