For the First Time, Again

For the First Time, Again is a 2023 science fiction alternate history novel by Canadian author Sylvain Neuvel. It serves as the third and final installment in the Take Them to the Stars series, following *A History of What Comes Next* (2021) and *Until the Last of Me* (2022). The story takes place from the late 1990s to the mid-2000s and follows a lineage of women who secretly steer human history to push civilization toward space exploration. Each chapter is named after a song from the era in which it is set.

The plot centers on Aster, the last surviving member of the Kibsu. Her mother, Lola, died when Aster was very young, leaving her orphaned and unaware of her heritage. She is raised by Samael, the final Tracker, who explains the Kibsu’s mission—to protect Earth from a second alien invasion by accelerating humanity’s spaceflight—and the Trackers’ own goal: to locate and activate a beacon that would summon the invading aliens to Earth.

Critical reception was generally positive. Kristi Chadwick, writing in *Library Journal*, noted that the novel “fill[s] in the final pieces of this science-fiction puzzle” and praised Neuvel for “balancing actual historic events with the alien pursuit” to create an active story. *Publishers Weekly* stated that series readers “will not be disappointed,” highlighting the “frantically paced plot” and the effective counterbalance of action with “nuanced character work.” At *SFFWorld*, Mark Yon called it “an enjoyable ride” but observed that because Aster was raised by an ex-Tracker without Kibsu oversight, “the novel does not always go the way you expect it to”—which some may find “refreshing” and others “frustrating.” Yon also felt that “a key element remains unresolved,” potentially leaving room for another series. Tobias Carroll, reviewing for *Tor.com*, described the book as “eminently readable,” though he found the shift beyond the Cold War era “downplayed some of the tension.” He praised Neuvel’s ability to turn mundane details into crucial plot points and singled out the endnotes as “some of the most intriguing elements” of the story.