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Revealing Jack McDevitt’s Latest Academy Series Novel, The Long Sunset

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Revealing Jack McDevitt’s Latest Academy Series Novel, The Long Sunset

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Revealing Jack McDevitt’s Latest Academy Series Novel, The Long Sunset

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Published on July 19, 2017

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We’re excited to share the cover for The Long Sunset, the 8th book in Jack McDevitt’s Academy series! Priscilla Hutchins’ job is on the line now that the Academy may be shut down for good. After receiving a mysterious interstellar message, she and her crew are off on a last ditch mission across the galaxy…

Learn more about the novel and check out the full cover by the great John Harris below!

Cover art by John Harris; design by Michael McCartney

The Long Sunset publishes April 2018 with Saga Press. From the catalog copy:

An interstellar message is discovered that could be Priscilla “Hutch” Hutchins’ last chance for a mission before the program is shut down for good, as world politics have shifted from exploration to a growing fear that the program will run into an extraterrestrial race both more advanced and dangerous.

However this message is a piece of music from an unexplored area, and despite the growing paranoia Hutch and her crew are determined to make an early escape to interstellar space—but what they find across the galaxy is completely unexpected.

Jack McDevitt on writing The Long Sunset:

We all got excited in 1960 when Frank Drake launched the initial SETI effort. I remember thinking that it meant I would very likely live long enough to find out whether there was intelligent life elsewhere. Of course, what has followed is a puzzle: Why is it so quiet out there? We’ve responded to the silence by taking an increasingly active role, launching probes with messages, and establishing organizations like the Breakthrough Initiative, which is advocating we actively send transmissions to nearby stars. And upgrade the technology to ensure that whoever is on the receiving end gets the message. Hello, out there.

Numerous scientists, most visibly Stephen Hawking, have responded by trying to wave off the idea. It’s too dangerous. High tech aliens might perceive us as nothing more than bacteria. Keep in mind, Hawking says, what happened to Native Americans when the Europeans crossed the Atlantic. It has left me wondering how we would respond if the technology went further, if FTL travel is actually possible and we developed the capability to visit other stars? Would we send interstellar vehicles out to investigate the cosmic neighborhood? Or would we shut everything down?

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8 years ago

love that John Harris art, looking forward to the book

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8 years ago

Such a solid SF writer.  Have read a fair number of his books and am currently reading Thunderbrid. I really enjoy his work.  Looking forward to this.  Love his Priscilla Hutchins books.

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8 years ago

A few years ago I went walk through a library & discovered Jack McDevitt’s books. I kept coming across him. Every time I pick up a stack of books I find myself putting Jack’s books back.

One day I was reading Traveler of Worlds conversations with Robert Silverberg by Alvaro Zinos-Amaro.(Excellent book) They talked about Jack McDevitt’s book & world building & such. 

The long Sunset feels like a good start to reading his work.

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Michael Spencer
7 years ago

Every single book— yep, every one— is in my library and read several times. And now that I’m addicted to audio books, I’m doing it all over again. They are just lovely.

I tend to turn to Jack’s work as you would sorbet between courses, a way to regroup as clean prose develops new stories and new characters.

I do think that Hutch ought to get laid more often. But it’s a judgement call :-)

The only book I’d leave out is Hercules Text, sadly not available in audio form.

Jack McDevitt is one of the best. 

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Rebecca
7 years ago

Love Jack McDevitt’s writing. He is among my top five favorite authors. I read everything he publishes that I can get my hands on. I started with Chindi and was hooked. He may not recognize this as the ultimate compliment, but I HATE reading first person. He is one of only two authors I will read who write (at least sometimes) in the first person. Beautiful writer.

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Bill Hofbauer
7 years ago

Love Jack’s work, and have been a major fan for at least 15 years.  His books have a sense of currency – they are not heavy with technology, but focus instead on humanity.  I especially look forward to the Hutch books, which seem to reflect in many ways the current issues with the space program and the increased urgency in finding new worlds and possible life.

Each time I finish reading one of Jack’s stories, I have a feeling that I should be writing … something. His work gives me hope!  Thank you, sir. 

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SueNZ
7 years ago

I remember when I first discovered Jack’s books.  Chindi was the first one, then Polaris.  Wow!  I was addicted after that and persuaded our NZ libraries to put them on their shelves.  Of course, I’ve bought quite a few since then!  Can’t wait for this latest one.  And uh, Michael Spencer, a well written story doesn’t need that stuff.  Use your imagination if you like.

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Pierrette Paradis
7 years ago

When I discovered Mr. McDevitt’s books, I just could not get  enough! Since I am a voracious reader e.g.I’ve read Agatha Christie’s entire oeuvre at least three times! (can you tell I like her books too?), I keep searching for authors with similar styles…with no luck!  I have read and re-read Jack’s books a few times already…and patiently wait for the next ones to roll around.  Keep up the good work Mr. McDevitt, you’re the best in my book!

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Larry Stein
7 years ago

I’ve read every book Jack has written, many of them twice.  I can’t wait for new ones and pre-buy every time.
Keep them coming and thanks for all the great hours of enjoyment.

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Matt Heinz
7 years ago

I read the Chindi on an absolute fluke. From there, I have picked up every single one of the Academy series! Such a great set! I was disappointed at the conclusion of Caldron, and thought that was then end. I did a back flip when I heard Hutch was returning yet again! I hope this is what all the other books have been building towards, meeting a ‘still alive’ alien race! Don’t let us down Jack!

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Travelman
7 years ago

I have been a fan of Jack McDevitt’s work for many years. The real beauty of his books is that they can be read several times and still find something new. Always look forward to anything new he writes.

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Barb G.
7 years ago

I am a Jack McDevitt fan for a number of years, I have never found one of his books i didn’t like.  I also have copies of all of his books but I would like to say something about the reason that planets can’t seem to be found with life as we know it.  For one thing space is filled with large amounts of deadly radiation that up to now as far as I know we don’t have any protection from in regards to us making a two year trip to Mars.  That is something I never see any scientist talking about and they should be trying to find ways around it to protect the crews.  It would be to bad if the crews making the trip to Mars were found dying from radiation poisoning.  The only reason we are still here on Earth is because of the strong Magnetic field that is generated by Earth similar to a force field.  If the planets that have been found have no protection like we have life could not arise it would be wiped out before it could get started.  But I have confidence that in the near future we will be able to  find planets out there with the same protection we have.

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Ulf Claesson
7 years ago

It has been a long wait, but.. what.. three books coming out this year? Or at least two (I guess the third title that has been mentioned, Blame It On The Aliens, might be coming in the spring of 2019). That is great news.

Been a fan since 2001, when I stumbled across Engines of God and was absolutely blown away,  it was like discovering the  genre all over again; I remember sitting outdoors in the summer sun, feeling like I was back in 1970 or 1971 again, reading classics like Tau Zero, End of Eternity, Way Station and Childhood’s End for the first time, which was a staggering experience. It didn’t make things worse that the three other titles I read that month, Deepsix among them, were amazing, as well..

So by all means, blame it on the aliens, while we listen to that voice in the night, walking into the long sunset..

Ha ha, clever, aren’t I?

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David G Risner
7 years ago

When will the audiobook be available??? 

 

I love McDevitt’s work, but I only have time to read via audiobooks lately. I’m so disappointed that the audio book isn’t available and I’m worried that an audio version might not get produced. 

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Jake Kurnot
6 years ago

New to Jack McDevitt. Just bought The Long Sunset. Do the Academy Series novels read independently? Didnt realize it was part of a series. Thanks.