Track A · Sci-Fi / Thriller
The Last Astronaut
David Wellington
Science Fiction / First Contact / Sci-Fi Thriller
Synopsis
Two decades ago, Sally Jansen was the chief astronaut for NASA's first manned mission to Mars—a mission that ended in catastrophic failure. Now retired and living in self-imposed exile, Sally is called back into service when a massive, non-responsive alien object enters the solar system on a collision course with Earth. As the head of a hastily assembled team, Sally must lead a high-stakes mission into the deep unknown to make contact with an entity that defies human comprehension.
Author spotlight
David Wellington
Join the Guild's live author Q&A series and recorded replays on the Events page to go deeper on David Wellington's work.
See events →4-week reading schedule
Track your journey
Your progress
0%
0 / 12 tasks
Week 1
Chapters 1–10
The Recall & Mission Prep
Week 2
Chapters 11–20
Approach & Boarding the Object
Week 3
Chapters 21–30
The Anomaly Deepens
Week 4
Chapters 31–End
Contact & Final Resolution
Discussion
Bring these to the table
Prompt 01 · The Last Astronaut
“How does Sally Jansen's past trauma influence her decisions when face-to-face with the unfamiliar?”
Prompt 02 · The Last Astronaut
“How does the novel balance hard scientific concepts with psychological dread?”
Prompt 03 · The Last Astronaut
“In what ways does the design of the alien object subvert traditional sci-fi first-contact tropes?”
Prompt 04 · The Last Astronaut
“How do political tensions between military, corporate, and scientific agendas manifest onboard?”
Prompt 05 · The Last Astronaut
“What does the ending suggest about humanity's place in the broader universe?”