Without interstellar dust, the Universe as we see it today would not exist. Yet this vital ingredient was first considered merely an irritating fog that prevented a clear view of stars and nebulae in the Milky Way and other galaxies. We now know that interstellar dust has essential roles in physics and chemistry, in the formation of stars and planetary systems, in the creation of the building blocks related to the origin of life, and in the movement of those molecules to new planets. This is the story the authors tell in this book. Appealing to a general audience, it is the first attempt to discuss interstellar dust at an accessible level with any chemical presentations kept to a minimum.