The Engines of God by Jack McDevitt

Space shuttle pilot Hutch becomes involved with the academy's archeological explorations after she visits one of the extraordinary alien statues.

I've just finished Jack McDevitt's Engines of God... it's such a remarkable book (and the first installment of Priscilla Hutchins book series) and I was appalled from the beginning to the end, especially the finale. I came across a list of books similar to the Mass Effect series and was extremely interested in the work of McDevitt. It predates Mass Effect in so many years and it's quite intriguing.

Crabs, waves, cloud missiles
the highlight of your career
dying for a cause.

A book that seemed to promise big ideas, left me completely cold and a little bored.

If one is dealing with the creation and destruction of civilisations, does one really need to know that two characters ordered meatballs in a restaurant?

Oh, tip for all budding civilisation builders - avoid right-angles! (Perhaps the meatballs were a clue?)

Xenoarcheologie, hoezee. Het doet wat denken aan Ringworld en aan Rama (toen dat nog goed was) en aan veel andere dingen, en McDevitt wordt beter in zijn volgende boeken, maar toch: leutig.

Een betere editor toegewenst wel: het kon in zeker honderd pagina's minderd.