When the first call from the stars comes, do we even dare to answer?
 
Life changes for everyone in general—and for physicist Dean Matthews in particular—when astronomers detect a radio signal from a nearby star. First contact forces humanity to face hard questions, and do it fast. Every answer spawns new questions. Every solution sets in motion a new and more daunting crisis to challenge Dean, his family—and an expanding number of interstellar civilizations—for generations to come.
 
This is the first book of Edward M. Lerner's InterstellarNet series.
Book 2: InterstellarNet: New Order
Book 3: InterstellarNet: Enigma
 
“One of the most original, believable, thoroughly thought-out, and utterly fascinating visions ever of what interstellar contact might really be like.” —Stanley Schmidt, editor of Analog Science Fiction & Fact
 
“…in InterstellarNet: Origins… Lerner proves he knows enough real-world, present-day computer science and economics to combine them into a wonderfully thought-provoking story.… Lerner’s world-building and extrapolating are top notch.” —SFScope
 
“Lerner mixes physics, computer science, and economics into a series of very intellectually satisfying puzzles. Some of the puzzles involve understanding the alien, and some depend on understanding ourselves… A very satisfying read, especially for the intellectually inclined.” —Mike Brotherton, author of Spider Star
 
“Edward Lerner takes us from a first SETI detection to full scale interstellar net economics, with thrills along the way. No one had thought through what a working interstellar net would be like. Lerner has the professional heft to make sense of it, tell a story, and make us care. Good stuff, told in clear, quick prose. A groundbreaking job!” —Gregory Benford, author of Timescape