Second Cousins

I quite enjoyed this book. It is hard to categorize – it is SF for sure, but it is also a techno-thriller/mystery.
Erosion uncovered a structure in the Southwestern desert area of the US. It turns out to be an alien artifact, a gateway, first to the Moon and then to the Stars. The bulk of the book tells the adventures of the people who headed the investigation of the artifact. However, there is a geopolitical undercurrent to the story which comes out strongly in the climax.
Roberts says he wrote the base story some 30 years ago but was never able to get it published. The recent changes in the book business gave him the choice of bypassing the traditional publishing gatekeepers and self-publishing. He updated the story and did so. That took some courage, and I am glad he did. While the right professional editing might have improved the story (in terms of dialog and pacing), it reads quite well as it is.
Mr. Roberts, may we have a sequel?