Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Forums

I'm trying to think of First Contact stories I've read.  First one that comes to mind is The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. An excellent book by any measure and one that stays with you afterwards.

Having said that, I can't say for sure it's my favorite but it's probably the best written.  It's a haunting tale that is beautifully written but I like my SF a little harder and faster.  Oh, that sounded wrong!  You know what I mean and get your mind out of the gutter.

Dave 

Learning the World is an excellent book.  I'd like to suggest Calculating God by Robert J. Sawyer.  The initial first contact scene is classic and really hooked me.  We have the first chapter excerpt if you want to see what I'm talking about.

Also by Sawyer is Rollback .  The first contact is via long distance with years passing between messages.  Seems a more realistic way for it to happen than interstellar travelers dropping by while they're in the neighborhood.

I like the excerpt for this on.  I've not read Elizabeth Moon before, is this a good book to start with?

I noticed on your profile that you've read all the Old Man's War series.  Those are some great books especially the first one.  I've got Zoe's Tale still to read.  I suppose those are somewhat "first contact."  They contact a lot of different races.... and try to kill them.

Deven,

Yeah, the young adult aspect of ZT has me shying away for now.  I'll still read it eventually and will hopeflly be surprised.

I hope you're deploying somewhere cool.  When I was in it was a mixed bag.  One year it's Key West the next it's Yuma.

So, what are you going to be reading?  Have you checked out the reading challenge?

somethingclever:  Yeah, that was a bit tongue-in-cheek about Old Man's War.  I'd love to read a Scalzi first contact book. Perhaps a prequel to OMW?  How it all got started would make an interesting read.

Pierre:  They certainly don't have to be nice aliens at all.  Another example of not so nice aliens in a first contact book would be Pushing Ice from Alistair Reynolds.  It's got abduction, imprisonment and some nasty aliens indeed.  Great book by the way.

htaccess: I've not read Childhood's End.  Perhaps we can get a review when you're done?