Last Day

Imagine a planet in one of the outer orbits of its star system where there can be no photosynthesis. Suppose life evolved there anyway using the heat from volcanic vents, much like the hardy life-forms that thrive at the bottom of the Earth's oceans. Suppose this evolutionary path never gave rise to predators and prey. Suppose, as a result, there arose an intelligent species of excellent character. This species could survive its intelligence and would, therefore, evolve into a highly intelligent life-form. Humans, by contrast, can only have limited intelligence. If a species derived from predators becomes too intelligent, that species will inevitably use its intelligence to effect its own destruction, whether or not intentionally; whether by way of nuclear holocaust or the inadvertent application of technology to unleash lethal viruses. This profound principle of evolution is first discovered, and then challenged by increasing ambiguities, in an adventure that begins 135 trillion miles from Earth. Book jacket.