Glieseians made themselves technological overseers that monitor species technological development and intervene as necessary. "We are observers" is a comedic buddy-cop novel about two observers, one being the by-the-book professional and the other a fun-loving take-it-as-it-comes kind of guy. We are observers plot is not a traditional march through a linear timeline. A glitch in Brain Essence Transfer, technology that two-way transfers all information stored in two brains between two Glieseians. This necessitates mentally “reliving” missing memories out of sequence. Timing is everything in comedy, and Downing delivers witty punchlines and well-paced gags throughout.