We follow our heroine Binns, a likeable yet blunt, modest yet intelligent protagonist as she tries to prove that aliens exist. Accompanying her is the intriguing character of Carter, an ex-CIA agent who is supposedly from outer space and claims to be in love with Binns. As she struggles to be taken seriously, issues such as sexism and racism are brought to the surface. The way that Binns shrugs this off and perserveres on her original mission is admirable and a lack of retaliation to any of her dismissals adds to the respect I found myself gaining for this character. As the story progresses, Binns and Carter travel time to discover other eras with other ways of life where they converse with stone age druids and medieval monarchs, highlighting history's impact on society today and how decisions made today can affect the far future.

Binns' attitude to Carter provides much comedy throughout the novel with her no nonsense replies to his persistent attempts at romancing her. Seen from Binns point of view these attempts are a slight annoyance, though depending on which version of Carter's seemingly fabricated past you believe, they could be seen as unbelievably sweet. As for Binns, hints to an uneasy adolescence leave you feeling in awe of her life achievements rather than evoking the sympathy that could be demanded here.