Written by #1 New York Times bestselling author John Sandford (famous for the Lucas Davenport Prey novels) and co-authored by photographer and scientist Ctein, this book offers a refreshing take on the "first contact" genre. It isn't about laser battles or mystical space elves; it is about politics, physics, and the terrifying reality of a space race conducted with near-future technology.

: October 6, 2015, by Penguin Publishing Group .

Much of the drama stems from the political tension between the US and China, rather than traditional "alien vs. human" conflict.

Unlike many sci-fi novels, Saturn Run avoids "magic" technology. The authors focused on plausible physics and engineering, detailing a mission where the U.S. retrofits a space station into a ship powered by ion-drive engines.

The book is available in several formats beyond the original $28 hardcover: Saturn Run: 9780399176951: Sandford, John, Ctein: Books