From the reviews: "Of the book's chapters, sixteen are review papers of topics relevant to life's place on our planet and beyond. ... The remaining chapters, mostly about research efforts, refer to the potential for life on Mars and Europa ... . Together, the chapters aim to motivate collaborative multidisciplinary research for the framing of questions as to the character and forms of life in the Universe. ... the book as a whole is excellent! Recommended." (P.A.L. Chapman-Rietschi, The Observatory, Vol. 125 (1187), 2005)