This is a collection of excerpts from Neil deGrasse Tyson's book, "Merlin's Tour of the Universe," which takes the form of a question-and-answer column between the reader and Merlin, a visitor from the Andromeda galaxy. The book uses a lighthearted approach to explore a range of astronomical topics, including the Earth, the Moon, planets, stars, galaxies, black holes, and the universe itself. The questions are based on those received by Tyson in his column for the astronomy magazine, Star Date. The text provides answers to common questions about the universe and its phenomena, as well as insights into the history of astronomy and the discoveries that have shaped our understanding of the cosmos.