I was gripped by this from the very outset. There are a number of twists and revelations that serve to keep us interested, and of course there's a huge message about the positives of science, thinking for oneself, and analysing data rather than accepting blase assurances. Peter's not done too many sequels, many of his First Contact novels stand by themselves, so I'll be interested to see where this one goes next. Thought-provoking, pretty hard science fiction with a more mental bent this. Loved it.