The Object: A Hard Sci-Fi Novel
In this pulse-pounding sci-fi mystery, one physicist will discover that everything humans thought they knew about space and time was wrong.
Former fighter pilot and physicist Dr. Melody Adams was once a rising star in the NASA astronaut program. Now, she’s grounded in Hawaii, observing the night skies through the Gemini North telescope. But what she’s just seen could change everything.
When Melody notices what looks like a comet near Pluto―a scientific impossibility that far out in the solar system―she’s convinced she’s made a major breakthrough, even as other scientists dismiss it and she becomes a laughingstock. Whatever it is, it’s moving fast . . . and headed toward Earth.
Two years later, the object is spotted again, closer than ever before, and it seems to be slowing down. Suddenly thrust into the spotlight, Melody becomes part of a team tasked with investigating what is now suspected to be an extraterrestrial vessel. She’ll get a second chance to head into outer space, and Earth may get its first chance to establish contact with an alien intelligence―assuming it hasn’t come to destroy humanity . . .
Blast off with a crew of international astronauts as they come face-to-face with the unknown in USA Today–bestselling author Joshua T. Calvert’s new take on the classic space thriller that’s perfect for fans of Project Hail Mary.
From the Publisher
ASIN : B0FJDQLH9R
Publisher : Podium Publishing
Publication date : March 31, 2026
Language : English
Print length : 348 pages
ISBN-13 : 979-8347020508
Item Weight : 11.4 ounces
Dimensions : 5.5 x 2 x 8.5 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #218,926 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #92 in Hard Science Fiction (Books) #124 in Exploration Science Fiction #561 in First Contact Science Fiction (Books)
Customer Reviews: 4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars (11,254) var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });
$19.99
In this pulse-pounding sci-fi mystery, one physicist will discover that everything humans thought they knew about space and time was wrong.
Former fighter pilot and physicist Dr. Melody Adams was once a rising star in the NASA astronaut program. Now, she’s grounded in Hawaii, observing the night skies through the Gemini North telescope. But what she’s just seen could change everything.
When Melody notices what looks like a comet near Pluto―a scientific impossibility that far out in the solar system―she’s convinced she’s made a major breakthrough, even as other scientists dismiss it and she becomes a laughingstock. Whatever it is, it’s moving fast . . . and headed toward Earth.
Two years later, the object is spotted again, closer than ever before, and it seems to be slowing down. Suddenly thrust into the spotlight, Melody becomes part of a team tasked with investigating what is now suspected to be an extraterrestrial vessel. She’ll get a second chance to head into outer space, and Earth may get its first chance to establish contact with an alien intelligence―assuming it hasn’t come to destroy humanity . . .
Blast off with a crew of international astronauts as they come face-to-face with the unknown in USA Today–bestselling author Joshua T. Calvert’s new take on the classic space thriller that’s perfect for fans of Project Hail Mary.
From the Publisher
ASIN : B0FJDQLH9R
Publisher : Podium Publishing
Publication date : March 31, 2026
Language : English
Print length : 348 pages
ISBN-13 : 979-8347020508
Item Weight : 11.4 ounces
Dimensions : 5.5 x 2 x 8.5 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #218,926 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #92 in Hard Science Fiction (Books) #124 in Exploration Science Fiction #561 in First Contact Science Fiction (Books)
Customer Reviews: 4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars (11,254) var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });
A. Rutter –
Hard Science that is not ‘Difficult Science’, and very well done
Mr. Calvert is becoming one of my favored authors in the Hard Science realm. This book is based on and full of modern day, real science. But it does not attempt to make you work through all that science, or become an on-line expert in any of it. Rather, it shows how today’s science is used, and what goes into that use. Add to that a really good story line and it’s a winner.The characters are nicely developed, as is the story itself. I found that various stereotypes were well used, and very well turned around. The story itself is fairly low-key, building slowly until the end. There were several events that were a bit telegraphed, but (and no spoiler here) the end segment itself was truly not what I expected. A little different, quite well done. Overall, a good and fun read.
Peter Koziar –
Engaging plot and characters, hardly science
I enjoyed the book overall, but there were too many blunders for “hard SF’ that kept blowing me out of the story.Here are a few:o Solar sails are for propulsion, not generating electricity. Those would be solar arrays.o In a spinning body, “down” points to the outside of the body, and “up” inside. There were too many instances of the characters falling “into” the interior of a rotating body.o Carbon dioxide is not poisonous, if it were, we would all be dead. We exhale it all the time.o There is an instance in the book of lungs operating in the vacuum of space. Where is the air coming from?o Something is killed from the equivalent of a scratch on the side of a finger. I won’t say more or it would be a spoiler.o Also with respect to centripetal acceleration (centrifugal force isn’t really a thing), it doesn’t suddenly appear when you attach to a rotating body, but you have to fly around it in tighter and tighter circles, feeling the growing affects all the way.There were many others.I did feel like the ending of the book was a bit of a letdown. I was expecting something stupendous, and it wasn’t there. I’m giving it four stars for the strength of the characterization and for an exciting read mid-book.
Chuck Bennett –
Hard SF First Contact story.
The primary draw that kept me turning pages was =not= the hard SF with occasional exposition of various facts and principles unknown to me (although that was indeed fascinating!), but rather the story of the first-person narrator/protagonist. Lt Cmdr Dr Melody Adams is a US Navy fighter pilot, with PhD in physics, diverted into the astronaut program and now working with NASA.In Chapter 1, she is working in data collection at the Gemini North observatory on Mauna Kea, while waiting for an available slot to actually travel into space as an astronaut. She spots a strange space object near Pluto exhibiting characteristics of both a comet and an asteroid, but it is clearly neither. The story tells about the years as the object falls toward the inner zone of the Solar System, and finally Melody’s trip out to meet it as Commander of a multi-nation crewed space vehicle.The story exhibits the “hardness” of its SF throughout, with no “magical” tech but only real technology and what can be reasonably extrapolated a few years into the future, and real physics, astrophysics, and orbital mechanics (a realm of physics that has always fascinated me but eluded my attempts to comprehend the math!). The most speculative part begins (naturally) upon the mission’s rendezvous with the object and attempts to learn about it (lots of fascinating geology, chemistry, and biochemistry in their analyses (hint hint)). Then a somewhat hard (for me) to comprehend conclusion, which I think I need to reread when more fully awake.A very satisfying book, which I would love to purchase and keep rather than only checking out from KU. Well written, well edited and proofread, a delight for my critical reading experience (something I have trouble turning off when confronted with failures and slop in these areas). A solid 5-star book, highly recommended if any of the above seems interesting to you!
MartinS –
Good Story and characters, balanced between science and emotions. I like the ending and the book was easy to read.
The Avid Reader –
Yes, this is a slow burner, yes there’s a lot of science, but this is a gripping book, nonetheless. The characters are real people, especially Mel and Tom.I loved the ending, but I wanted more, more, more!A sobering look at human reaction and understanding runs through this like an undercurrent.We need to expand our consciousness as a species, to climb out of the tunnel that is our current vision of other life forms. This book expressed that in many ways, and very eloquently, too.The epilogue was 98% satisfying for me! Why the two percent wiggle? The end left a loose thread for me, but I won’t spoil your reading. Anyway, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes, it’s the best way – to leave the reader thinking.Bravo.
Ed –
Great book, scientifically sound and wonderful deep dives, backgrounds and explanations of the science necessary for space exploration. A great combo of fiction and reality.
andrea –
molto buono
Jacqueline Lamb –
This was my first introduction to Calvert’s novels. I had just finished reading the 3 Body Problem trilogy (3BP) and I’m now hooked on hard science fiction forever so I was looking for some thing else to get my teeth into. Found this book and although not quite the same ‘hard science’ hit as 3BP (which I think I needed a break from anyway), I enjoyed it. I love a good ending that keeps you guessing, has closure yet leaves you with something to ponder. It wasn’t a hard slog, as some hard fiction novels can be. I enjoyed the characters and the plot. A light read, flowed nicely and at a good pace. A good book for the first time hard science fiction newbie.