This book was written in the 70s but set in 2025 and beyond. It imagines the outcome of an effort like SETI: decades of result-less searching, then finally an answer, and the effects that ensue. The book is divided into several separate sections, each told from a different character's perspective and each at a later date so that the story of many decades can be covered.

It's a fascinating and very realistic look at a very real topic. However, I did find the writing style a bit dry and was far more interested in the overall story than most of the individual characters' struggles.