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ALIENS: Past, Present, Future. Ron Miller. Author and illustrator Ron Miller examines the question: How did—and how do—astronomers and laypeople envision extraterrestrial life? He draws extensively on pop culture (including everything from 1950s pulp stories to Star Trek to Avatar) as well as alleged alien abductions and other sources. The book is organized into three sections: an overview of our changing perspectives on alien life; astrobiology and the science of extraterrestrial life; and the effect that the concept and popularization of aliens has had on the world—including perhaps on philosophy and religion. Lavishly illustrated with everything from medieval engravings to movie posters to computer-generated illustrations, this book is a fascinating and accessible look at the topic, for scientists, science fiction buffs, and skeptics alike. Watkins Publishing, 2017, 240 pp., $25.44.