No, this is not about the soccer club.

When reviewing, a few weeks back, the interesting assumptions Isaac Asimov made in his “Foundation” series — set 30,000 years-plus in the future — I neglected to mention a fairly major assumption that he made.

To wit: Humans are the only form of intelligent life in Asimov’s galaxy.

I was reminded of his when The National did a review of a new book … in which the author makes a case for our uniqueness in the galaxy. Meaning Asimov is right.

So, no Vulcans or Klingons or Romulans?

Not according to The Reason Why, a book by the science writer John Gribbin.

Gribbin spends a lot of time explaining what Asimov apparently assumed: We are alone, and we better get used to it.

Gribbin outlines the series of unlikely occurrences that led to life on Earth.

A sun not too big and not too hot but not too cold. An ozone layer that limits the sun’s harmful rays. Water. A meteor vacuum by the name of Jupiter. A large moon to regulate tides. And on and on. He suggests life forms without water are unlikely, which the reviewer says is being a bit small-minded. But …

I realized, as I read the review, that I’ve always believed the same thing. I just don’t think anything else is out there.

It’s fun to posit alien life forms … though others have suggested that any civilization advanced enough to find us and visit us also could probably destroy us … and probably would. All we need do is reflect back on discoveries on our own planet that usually led to conquests and something approaching extinction.

Nope, Gribbin says. It’s just us.

I like the idea. But we probably should get back into the business of finding a way off this planet. It may not be enough to handle all of us.