I would not say that I am a hard core sci fi fan, but this book grabbed my attention quickly and kept me engrossed from start to finish. I can’t wait for book two to come out so I can see where the story goes from here. This is sci fi with a strong human element that had me wondering what I would do if faced with the same situations as L.C. Black. A lifelong military man and an entire crew have given a large part of their lives to expand the reach of humanity deeper into space than ever before. However, that human expansion -- like every other one in the history of mankind -- comes with costs. Costs to those that are on the journey and costs to those that might be in their way. Black is obsessed with an idea that he can’t let go of. His hunch may or may not be right, but he has a long time to think about it and try to convince a skeptical military organization that they should reconsider their loyalty to the mission above all else. Black knows that right or wrong, his career has topped out so he is willing to take some risks and go outside of protocol to get answers. With the mission complete and their roles now obsolete, the crew is more concerned about what is next for them as opposed to any altruistic ideals. However, we soon discover that there are some on this mission that adhere to a completely different set of ideals that neither Black nor his superiors ever saw coming. This book examines what we are willing to give up for human progress and who will give a voice to those that have none along our journey. A good balance of thought provoking content to make the reader stop and think as well as action to keep that reader coming back for more. Highly recommended.