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Carl Sagan's Cosmic Connection: An Extraterrestrial Perspective
By Carl Sagan.
Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 2000.
302 pp., illus b/w.
ISBN:0-521-78303-8.
Reviewed by Robert Pepperell, University College Wales, Newport, Caerleon Campus, Newport, NP18 3YH, U.K.
E-mail: pepperell@cwcom.net
Cambridge University Press have re-issued this classic work of popular
science originally published in 1973 by the scientist and advocate of space
research, Carl Sagan. In doing so they have "topped-and-tailed" it with
career testimonials from close friends of Sagan and an honest assessment of
how his ideas and predictions have held up in the intervening 28 years. The
original purpose of the book seems to have been, not only to inform the
public of current developments in astronomy and exobiology but also, to use
the implications of such science to promote deep space exploration and
global peace - two goals that Sagan saw as inextricably linked. Despite his
great personal optimism and influence it is the unfortunate legacy of our
time that both hopes seem, if anything, more distant than they did in the
1970s. Perhaps the most lasting consequence of his work is the relatively
recent acceptance amongst serious scientists of the possibility of
extra-terrestrial life. I can certainly remember as a child in the '70s
seeing famous astronomers on TV dismissing the notion of alien life
(especially intelligent life) as wildly fantastic. Our more recent
understanding of the true vastness of the Universe has led to the
moderation of such views - even the acceptance of the likelihood of such
distant life (we have all walked past an office and seem the SETI
screen-saver churning through data on a colleague's screen). This shift in
consciousness is probably due, in large part, to the persistence and
professional integrity of Sagan himself, as well as the many media projects
he contributed to.
Much of this straight-forwardly written book is devoted to explaining
the state of astronomy and exobiology, sprinkled with personal anecdotes,
historical illustrations and socially-minded comment. Given that space
science is such a fast changing field much of the book remains remarkably
relevant today. Elsewhere he uses his wide experience and knowledge to
probe and predict future feasible paths of human development, and how we
might relate to other possible life forms. One is left with the impression
of a man who thought deeply about massive issues, whilst never losing an
optimistic belief in the ability of science to improve humanity.
This book has been widely read, and praised, since its first publication
and, although it will serve as excellent reading material for a wide range
of educational purposes, I imagine it offers few new ideas to the current
intellectual climate.
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