To Seek Out New Life: The Biology of Star Trek (Book Review)

So this man walks into a bar and sits down next to a woman. After a moment's hesitation, he looks over and says, "Hi, can I buy you a drink?" The women looks back and says, "Let me ask you something. What do you get if you cross a Vulcan and a Klingon?" "I don't know," responds the man, "a Sporf?" The woman gives him a deadpan look. "Nothing," she says. "I beg your pardon?"; "Nothing," she repeats, "their zygotes aren't compatible." "Oh... I see," stutters the man, who then stands up and walks out of the bar.

What you've just witnessed is more than just a busted pickup attempt. It's a glimpse into the world of To Seek Out New Life: The Biology of Star Trek, and it is, as Sporf might say, "FASCINATING!"

I didn't really know what to expect when I picked up Athena Andreadis's book. I mean, there have been so many [insert subject here] of Star Trek offerings in recent years. Would it be enlightening or would it be just another attempt to cash in on the fad? Fortunately it was the former and, like a photon too close to a singularity, I was sucked right in.

Andreadis is really an amazing woman. Born and raised in Greece, she moved to the United States at the age of 18 where she had a full scholarship to Harvard. After completing her program there, she went on to earn a Ph.D. in molecular biology from MIT, and now is an assistant professor or neurosurgery at the Harvard Medical School. I'd say that qualifies her to write this book. She speaks Greek and English fluently, and if you've any doubts about this just take the advice of those old Time-Life commercials and "read the book."

Eloquently written, To Seek Out New Life engages the reader and communicates on a very intelligent, yet very friendly level. At times playful and at others serious, there's never a condescending tone or an "I know more than you." Andreadis clearly wrote this book because she loves to talk about the subject, and she makes some great cracks at Kirk: "In 'Elaan of Troyius' (TOS), Elaan's tears contain an ingredient that plunges Captain Kirk into sexual thrall—though