The Big HelloAlastair ReynoldsWelcome aboard If you are in receipt of this message and if youvesucceeded in understanding it of course then youve already passed thehardest test Youve attained a basic competence in physics andengineering coupled with enough of an understanding of the universe youlive in to intercept and decode signals from the Galactic InformationNetworkCongratulations This is already more than most cultures achieve so yourealready well ahead of the pack Give yourselves a pat on...whatever it isyou guys pat yourselves onThe next step should you choose to take it is to participate in the GalacticInformation Network by replying to this message Its easy - all you have todo is generate a modulated gravity wave signal with a source strength ofaround four billion billion Megawatts That may sound a lot but it isntreally - its only one percent of the energy output of the G-type star yourplanet orbits Go on - you wont miss itBut wait Before you launch into a reply and were really keen to hear fromyou there are a few things you might want to keep in mind Call themrules call them guidelines call them Good Old Common Sense - we dontcare as long as you obey them without questionOnly kidding But there are still a few little things you might want to bearin mind if only to avoid wasting expensive Galactic bandwidth To assist inthis weve supplied a few tips that you may find usefulFirstly most new cultures want to know a bit about the wider GalacticCommunity - and who can blame them Its a big old Galaxy out there andyouve just joined the party Right now though all you need to know isthat you are one of the more junior members of the inhabited Galaxy andthat there are a few tests you have to pass before you can ascend to thesecond level of sentience Dont be disheartened though