A review by chramies
Learning the World: A Scientific Romance by Ken MacLeod

4.0

Interesting first-contact novel which explores the story from both sides, as after all both humans and 'aliens' are making first contact - and which is which after all? There is much to admire and otherwise in both sides. The speculation towards the end of the book is interesting but doesn't detract from the rest of it even if it does possibly answer the unanswered questions about the origins of the Earth expedition.
The 'scientific romance' subtitle is possibly more deserved from the viewpoint of the 'aliens' whose level of technological development is similar to that of the 'developed' world in the late 19th century.