How have I never read this book before? At once it's hopeful and beautiful and devastating. It almost breaks my heart to read it.

This is one of those books that felt like it had to have been written just for me. 1950's style monsters? Check. Raymond Chandler-esque mystery? Check. A good dose of humour? Check. Written by a great author that obviously really loves these things too.

I have read this book at least 6 times (the whole series really) and I always find myself coming back to it eventually. I love the parallels of looking for Earth 20,000 years in the future to our own hunt for our origins today.