The Rosetta Mind

Wanted: First Contact Translator. Salary Commensurate With Experience

Estlin Hume awakes alone in his home outside of Twin Butte, Alberta, to find that he's surrounded by aliens, soldiers, scientists, spies, and affectionate squirrels. That's nothing new. But now there's a giant (12 acres x 16 fathoms) saltwater tank full of cuttlefish suspended above his house. WTF!

Adopted by a pair of newly arrived aliens to serve as their translator, Estlin is trapped at the center of a first contact crisis. Unfortunately, the aliens have silently climbed the nearest tree, leaving him to contend with the hundreds of cuttlefish.

He is inundated with ill-advised governmental and military directives-punctuated by random acts of violence from unknown nefarious agents-as everyone is determined to find out for themselves what the aliens really want. No matter the cost! No matter the outcome!