A first for both the SETI Institute and Classical Archives, we join forces in this newsletter. Together, we recommend a technothriller paying tribute to both rigorous science and to classical music.

The new novel AWE: A technothriller, already an Amazon *bestseller*, has received excellent editorial and reader reviews and is a must-read for lovers of classical music and for all those interested in the Drake Equation’s L factor to which the book is dedicated (perhaps a first in itself).

L is the average length of time a civilization can be expected to last, continuing to broadcast its presence to potential neighbors in the Milky Way galaxy. As you probably know, N is the number of civilizations in the Milky Way galaxy whose electromagnetic emissions are detectable. (The complete description is here.)

Perhaps in another first, AWE offers a playlist of classical music works to listen to while reading the novel. One track per chapter. See this where Schwob tells us how this came to be. Pierre Schwob founded Classical Archives in 1994 and it has grown into one of the leading destinations for classical music lovers, with over one million tracks by some of the greatest musicians in the world.

The novel tells the story of a group of brilliant scientists who discover that our climate is about to reach a critical threshold far sooner than anticipated, bringing disaster to our planet, “its rampant biosphere,” and our own civilization. Supercharging AI, they develop AWE (the Artificial Wisdom Engine) to help find solutions and to combat the virulent disinformation their murderous antagonist is spreading.

Clarion Reviews calls it “a triumphant thriller.” Publishers Weekly Booklife Reviews (who made AWE an Editor’s Pick) writes, “Readers will savor the astonishing details, and, after delivering a precise assessment of the world’s priorities, Schwob builds momentum to a satisfying conclusion.” Kirkus Reviews offers, “Adeptly blends climate science, technology, and character development in this geopolitical thriller.” The Book Revue (which gives AWE five stars) writes, “Emphasizing the importance of scientific rigor and international cooperation to address the most crucial problems in the world, Schwob deftly integrates intellect with action.”

Breaking news: an audio recording of AWE: A technothriller is now in production! The Audible version of the novel will be made available December 2024/January 2025. Follow the latest developments on the author’s website.

Schwob has written books on chess, calculators, and history. Ever since he read Carl Sagan in his teens, he has been passionate about physics and astrophysics. This brought him to research labs worldwide, the highest observatories and deepest mines, and to the South Pole among other striking locations. Asteroid (32890) “Schwob” has generously been named in his honor. He is a long time member of the Board of Directors of the SETI Institute, and he lives in Palo Alto.

AWE’s characters emulate the heroism of explorer-scientists at a critical time in history, similar to the manner in which The SETI Institute champions their research to discover life beyond Earth. The dedicated work of these real-life stars recently attracted the support of Morgan Freeman, who generously partnered with The SETI Institute through a broad-based PSA campaign. The showcase mirrors AWE, inspired at a time when the need for scientific reasoning and validation cannot be understated.