The Blue, Beautiful World (Del Rey) by Barbadian speculative fiction writer Karen Lord sets a superstar cast of would-be heroes against the impending promise of Earth’s First Contact with an alien species. From rockstars to diplomats, scientists to military personnel, The Blue, Beautiful World not only serves an unforgettable cast of characters, it explores the cult of personality taken to extremes. The novel asks, “How far would you go in pursuit of your ultimate power, at risk of losing yourself?”