The question regarding whether or not other planets share earth's unique ability to rear life is a question many ask. However, because men much smarter and consequentially more handsome than I have undertaken this very thing to no avail, I resign myself to the idea that I must leave such a search alone. Despite my lack of credentials in this field, though, there is, in fact, another discussion to which I can speak. For I can speak of worlds, and why bother talking about planets when one can speak about worlds?

From the time humanity first filled its lungs with breath, we have looked...