As anyone who knows knows: I’m the biggest sci-fi fan, although I came to it by way of… fairies? So I was excited to read about black holes, wormholes, clones, giant insects (less so), propelling Earth through Space, smart spacesuits, AI and sentient ships (my favourite!), “terraforming” (it isn’t) on Mars (everyone knows The Mars Trilogy is in my top 2 and not 2), space elevators, and politics in space (a.k.a. yes: The Expanse). All of these topics are covered, and more: Waldman speaks to humanity’s best minds to examine whether the science of our favourite sci-fi tropes stands up to real physics—and the answer is that sometimes it does, and other times it doesn’t.

Most of the book is interviews (Q/A form) with an introduction and conclusion from Waldman, which I found interesting but a less rigorous way of talking about the subject. The material is laid out in the most stylish way with beautiful illustrations at the beginning of each chapter : I can totally imagine displaying the hardcover on my equally stylish coffee table for people to marvel at my SF bona fides.

All of which to say, this is a fun (if not rigorous or deeply academic, in spite of the experts) book that will spark your interest to find out more, if you like. It leans heavily towards sci-fi in film, and I discovered lots through it (including, finally, Georges Méliès’s 1902 film A Trip to the Moon). Out There will be lots of fun for science fiction film buffs, and somewhat less so for those who are science fiction literature buffs (like me).

Thank you to NetGalley and to Running Press for access!