Two months ago, my book, THE MISSION, hit bookstores in the United States. This week, it was released in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. This book is the culmination of my life’s work. Seven years of my life went into it, and I can honestly say that every single word in its pages is literally the best I could do. And I am very proud to report that the response has been incredible. It was a book of the month for The Wall Street Journal and BBC Science Focus. In addition, here is a roundup of the big national reviews of my book that I’ve seen so far. If you find others, please let me know!

“An enthusiastic account of an interplanetary probe to a distant moon. ... NASA continues to accomplish great feats, and more are in the offing, including this book’s subject: the 2024 launch of a multibillion-dollar spacecraft to explore Jupiter’s moon Europa. ... Brown engagingly describes the cutthroat NASA political landscape. ... A delightful slice of NASA life.” — Kirkus (STARRED review)
“Brown brings to vivid life the 17-year effort to put together a mission to Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons. … Brown skillfully braids biography, science, obsession, and accounts of bureaucracy-wrangling into this mesmerizing tale of “good, bare-fisted science.” Salted with pop culture references and humor, Brown’s fascinating outing will entertain anyone curious about space exploration.” — Publishers Weekly (STARRED review)
"Scientists believe that any extraterrestrial life in our solar system would most likely be found on Europa, a moon of Jupiter. This book chronicles the work of a tenacious team of researchers who have spent decades investigating that possibility, despite obstacles both bureaucratic (NASA’s long-standing preoccupation with Mars) and physical: Europa lies within a 'pulsing, rippling' belt of radiation and is covered by an ice shell 'kilometers thicker than any hole ever drilled on earth.'" — The New Yorker (OH MY GOD I RECEIVED A NOTICE IN THE NEW YORKER)
“Brown is a nimble, gifted writer, downright Dickensian in his pointed descriptions and irreverent humor… Brown’s language drew me in to the world of interplanetary science and made me a part of it. The Europa Clipper mission is scheduled to launch in 2024 and, thanks to The Mission, I will be looking up, dreaming of Europa’s oceans, and those plumes, and waiting for news of what we find there.” — Air Mail
“Brown leaves no door closed as he covers the science, logistics, personalities, and politics of this extraordinary NASA mission. His extensively researched, humorous, raucous, dramatic, and pop-culture-and science-fiction-laced immersion in planetary science will have readers hanging on every word.” — Booklist
“This inspiring story provides a look into some of the characteristics needed to make change in a large industrial complex. Extensive notes are provided for further research. … An engaging read for all, especially for anyone curious about the details of space exploration.” — Library Journal
Brown spent seven years interviewing these folks, and it shows in the way he vividly captures the challenges, triumphs and disappointments they have confronted, including the 20 years it took to convince NASA to sanction Europa Clipper. … Brown’s experience writing for publications such as The Atlantic, Scientific American and Smithsonian also shines through as he provides context about the vast distances involved in space travel and explains the hardcore science in layman’s terms while adding a humorous tone. He writes with descriptive prose, such as when he coins Sun’s beginning as ‘a swelling union of dust and hydrogen . . . its rapacious core inhaling everything available.’ Combining science and technology with the emotional human experience, The Mission is a fresh look at the future of space exploration.” — Bookpage
“This book cannot answer the question of what—if anything—lurks in Europa's dark abyss, but it masterfully reveals with remarkable clarity what lies within the hearts of the men and women determined to find out.” — Scientific American
“The Mission is fascinating. … Poetic.” — The Times
“The Mission reads almost like a novel. Brown immersed himself in the lives of his characters and their work, coming away from his research with a richly realized story about fascinating characters." — The Houston Chronicle
“Written in a smooth, fluid style that offers a tip of the hat to Tom Wolfe’s The Right Stuff, this beautiful book is a gem of an introduction to our Solar System and how, over decades, human minds and robotic spacecraft have learned more about it. … Brown’s prose is refreshing and demonstrates his credentials as a superb wordsmith, handling complex issues of science, technology and politics with stylistic flair.” — BBC (5 stars out of 5)
“This is an exceptionally absorbing and thrilling work, thanks to the narrative skills of its author and his various inspired choices. … Even when a story is exciting and gripping, you need a good narrator to translate it into writing, and this is what you get here. The spirited style of Brown balances levity and drama skillfully, and keeps the attention of the reader throughout the book without losing the thread. … The story up to here is worth being told, and The Mission does it masterfully.” — Nature Astronomy

Thank you to all of the critics who spent their columns writing about my book, and to all of the readers who traded their time and hard-earned money to take part in this journey. It means more than I can ever say. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.