My New Book is Out!

Finally, after over a year of hard work, the second edition of my first book is out! I’m thrilled about this new edition—essentially a brand-new book, as I rewrote it entirely from scratch. Not only does this new edition bring my book up to date with the latest research and findings in the field (see further below), but it also corrects minor mistakes that cropped up in the first edition, in addition to enhancing the overall quality of the writing.

I don't mean to brag, but publishing a book—my third one now—is no easy task. First, you must persuade the publisher with a strong business case, proving that there is a viable market for the book and that it is worth their investment. Next, you need to plan, research, and write the content (rewrite in this case), often balancing feedback and revisions from my editor. Then comes the lengthy process of reviewing, refining, and sometimes rewriting entire sections to meet expectations. Finally, you work closely with the publisher on design and formatting. All this takes time and rather, much longer than is initially anticipated.

The interesting part of this journey is that I initially assured my editor that updating the first edition with the latest scientific findings would take just 3-4 months. However, upon rereading the first edition, I realized I wanted to completely rewrite it to elevate its quality. As a result, the process took an entire year (as a reminder, I have a full-time job so I write these books whenever in the evenings and weekends). This book would not have been possible without the generous support and patience of my editor, who often had to estimate the release date of this new edition based on my frequently over-optimistic updates.

Seven years have passed since the first edition, and during this time, research on ocean worlds and new analyses of data collected by space probes have offered fresh insights into these fascinating environments. As I reported in my February post, new compounds identified with very strong certainty in Enceladus' vents include hydrogen cyanide (HCN), acetylene, propane, and alcohols, while in my November 2023 post, I shared that the James Web Space Telescope gave us a new understanding of various large trans-Neptunian objects. These are some of the many new insights that are included in this new edition.

For the chapter on astrobiology, the largest in the book, I expanded it even further by including additional content on extremophiles found on Earth to enhance our understanding of hypothetical life in similar habitats on Solar System bodies. In doing so, we embark on a journey through the icy depths of Antarctic waters. In addition, I also provide new insights into potential body structures that such hypothetical life forms might adopt. Overall, this chapter has expanded to encompass one-fifth of the entire book, reflecting the vast and in-depth research currently unfolding in this field.

Inevitably, a point comes when updates can no longer be made due to looming production deadlines. However, I managed to "stop the press" at the eleventh hour to incorporate the extraordinary discovery of subsurface liquid water reservoirs on Mars. Unfortunately, given the tight constraints and the need to maintain the book’s layout, I could only dedicate a few sentences to this groundbreaking finding. Beyond the scientific updates, the book also covers the latest developments in space missions, including the successful launch of ESA's JUICE mission to the Jovian icy moon Ganymede and new proposals for missions aimed at exploring ocean world targets.

In addition, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the leading scientists who generously shared their time, insights, and expertise, making it possible to bring this book to life. Their contributions were invaluable in shaping the content and ensuring its accuracy. I also wish to thank my editor and publisher for their unwavering trust, guidance, and support throughout this journey. Without their belief in this project and their commitment to seeing it through, this book would not have been possible.

As you can see, this second edition represents a tremendous amount of effort, but it was truly a labour of love driven by my deep passion for our Solar System and my commitment to sharing this fascination with others.

I hope you will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. The book is currently available in digital copy, with the print version coming out shortly.

As always, onwards and upwards.

Bernard