In 2087, a spacecraft is sent to Europa, the second of the four satellites of Jupiter first seen by Galileo, to look for life in the saltwater ocean underlying the icy surface of that frigid moon. It is not an easy journey, and the crew of eight seasoned astronauts face a number of difficulties on that long and dangerous voyage. The expedition is followed by all mankind with mixed feelings as it proceeds to attempt an answer to the age-old question: Are we alone? What the crew finds in that ocean is both surprising and shocking.
In the meantime, an undecipherable message is received by the organization known as SETI, the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence. A shy, though brilliant, part-time member of that group finally solves the mystery of the message. As a result, she is appointed Special Assistant to the Director of NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. As such, she becomes an important member of the team assigned to bring the astronauts on the Europa mission home safely. But is she up to the job? And where did she come from? The book will have your pulse racing from the beginning to the end of this gripping new novel by the author of the acclaimed book and popular film, K-PAX.