Close Encounters: Top 10 First Contacts in Science Fiction

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Since the dawn of science fiction, writers have been fascinated by the idea of humanity’s first contact with extraterrestrial beings. This fascination birthed a whole genre of books and movies, with works running the gamut from thrilling adventure to profound philosophical exploration, the finest, skillfully capturing the imagination of audiences around the world. Today, we delve into the top 10 first contact stories in science fiction, exploring the diverse ways in which authors and filmmakers have envisioned our earliest interactions with beings from beyond the stars.

Contact by Carl Sagan (1985)

Carl Sagan's seminal novel Contact follows the journey of scientist Dr. Ellie Arroway as she makes contact with an extraterrestrial civilization through radio signals. Sagan's meticulous attention to scientific detail and his exploration of the implications of first contact make this a thought-provoking and deeply philosophical work.

Read Contact here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook. 

The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells (1898)

H.G. Wells' classic novel War of the Worlds  is perhaps the quintessential tale of alien invasion. Set in Victorian England, the story follows humanity's desperate struggle against technologically superior Martians. Without a doubt, Wells' vivid descriptions of the alien invaders and their destructive machines have left an indelible mark on the genre.

Read War of the Worlds here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook. 

"Arrival" directed by Denis Villeneuve (2016)

In this thought-provoking film (based on the Nebula winning novella Stories of Your Life by Ted Chiang), linguist Dr. Louise Banks is tasked with deciphering the language of an alien species that has arrived on Earth. As tensions mount between humanity and the visitors, Banks races against time to unravel the mysteries of their language and understand their true intentions.

Watch Arrival here on Amazon Prime.

Read Stories of Your Life here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke (1953)

Arthur C. Clarke's thought provoking classic Childhood's End explores the consequences of humanity's encounter with a peaceful and enigmatic alien race known as the Overlords. As the Overlords usher in a new era of peace and prosperity on Earth, questions arise about the price of progress and the nature of humanity's destiny.

Read Childhood's End here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

"Close Encounters of the Third Kind" directed by Steven Spielberg (1977)

Steven Spielberg's iconic film follows the experiences of ordinary people who have close encounters with UFOs. As the government investigates these sightings, one man becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth behind the mysterious encounters, leading to a breathtaking finale at Devil's Tower.

Watch Close Encounters of the Third Kind here on Amazon Prime.

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The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin (1969)

Ursula K. Le Guin's groundbreaking novel explores themes of gender, identity, and cultural exchange through the story of an envoy from Earth who visits the planet Gethen, inhabited by an androgynous and ambisexual alien species. As the envoy navigates the complexities of Gethenian society, he challenges his own preconceptions about gender and sexuality.

Read The Left Hand of Darkness here on Amazon.  Also available on audiobook.

"Independence Day" directed by Roland Emmerich (1996)

In this blockbuster film, Earth faces an all-out assault from a hostile alien race bent on the annihilation of humanity. As cities crumble and nations unite in a desperate fight for survival, a disparate group of individuals must come together to launch a daring counterattack against the alien invaders.

Watch Independence Day here on Amazon Prime.

Solaris by Stanisław Lem (1961)

Stanisław Lem's philosophical novel Solaris tells the story of a psychologist sent to investigate strange occurrences on a distant space station orbiting the mysterious planet Solaris. As the psychologist grapples with the manifestations of his own inner demons, he confronts the profound mysteries of the alien intelligence that dwells beneath Solaris' surface.

Available here in paperback. Also available in audiobook.

District 9 directed by Neill Blomkamp (2009)

In this gritty and thought-provoking film, humanity grapples with the arrival of a stranded alien spaceship and its insectoid inhabitants in Johannesburg, South Africa. As tensions between humans and aliens escalate, one man finds himself transformed by his encounters with the extraterrestrial visitors, leading to a reckoning with his own humanity.

Watch District 9 here on Amazon Prime.

The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin (2008)

Liu Cixin's epic novel The Three-Body Problem explores humanity's first contact with an alien civilization known as the Trisolarans. As Earth prepares for an inevitable invasion, scientists and government officials grapple with the implications of the Trisolarans' advanced technology and their enigmatic motivations.

Read The Three-Body Problem here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

From awe-inspiring tales of wonder to chilling visions of cosmic horror, first contact stories reflect our deepest hopes, fears, and aspirations. Whether exploring the mysteries of the universe or holding a mirror to the complexities of human nature, these works continue to inspire, and to provoke thought, and invite audiences to contemplate the possibilities and our place in the cosmos.

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Science Fiction Technologies That Became a Reality

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Throughout our history, science fiction has been a wellspring of inspiration for technological progress. What was once considered purely imaginative has, in many cases, become a reality. From communication devices to advanced medical breakthroughs, science fiction has predicted and influenced the development of various technologies that have changed our world.

Today, we take a look at the transformative impact of science fiction, by exploring some of the remarkable technologies that have transitioned from the realm of fiction into our everyday lives.

Communicators (Star Trek)

One of the most iconic science fiction technologies — the handheld communicators featured in the original Star Trek series — inspired the development of the modern, now ubiquitous, smartphones. Today, we can communicate effortlessly with people around the globe, gain almost instant access to information on any topic, organize our lives, and perform a myriad of tasks with ease, all courtesy of these devices which fit in the palm of our hands.

Want to check out one of the books inspired by the original Star Trek series? Try Star Trek: The Motion Picture available here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Voice-controlled Assistants (2001: A Space Odyssey)

Remember the voice-controlled assistant depicted in Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey? Today, virtual assistants like HAL are everywhere. AI-powered companions such as Apple's Siri, Amazon's Alexa, and Google's Google Assistant respond to voice commands, provide information, perform tasks, and control smart devices.

Read Arthur C. Clarke's classic 2001: A Space Odyssey here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Tablet Computers (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

The depiction of tablet computers in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" has striking similarities to modern-day tablets like the iPad. These sleek, portable devices with touchscreens allow us to consume media, browse the internet, and engage in productivity tasks from anywhere.

Curious about the books inspired by Star Trek: The Next Generation? Try Encounter at Farpoint here on Amazon.


Virtual Reality (VR) (Neuromancer)

William Gibson's influential cyberpunk novel Neuromancer introduced the concept of "cyberspace," a virtual reality where users could interact with digital worlds. Today, VR technology immerses us in virtual environments, revolutionizing industries such as gaming, training, and even therapy.

Read William Gibson's Neuromancer here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Self-Driving Cars (Various)

Science fiction, both in literature and in and films, has long envisioned autonomous vehicles, and they are now becoming a reality. Companies like Tesla, Waymo, and Uber are developing self-driving cars that have the potential to reshape transportation, making it safer, more efficient, and less reliant on human drivers.

Methuselah's Children by the legendary Robert A. Heinlein's was among the earlier sci-fi books to mention autonomous vehicles. Pick it up here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

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If you're enjoying this post on science fiction technologies that became a reality, why not join the DSF community for more awesome content? You'll get to be notified whenever a top 10 list or any other articles of interest go up on our site. It's free to sign up and you'll also get recommendations for new releases and discounted ebooks from our expert editorial team, from bestsellers to hidden gems.

Bionic Limbs (The Six Million Dollar Man)

The Six Million Dollar Man popularized the idea of bionic limbs, artificial limbs that provide enhanced strength and functionality. Today, we have advanced prosthetics that incorporate robotics and neural interfaces, allowing individuals with limb loss to regain mobility and dexterity.

Alas, Martin Caidin's Cyborg— the book on which The Six Million Dollar Man was based—appears unavailable in ebook format, but those with plenty of extra coin can pick up a secondhand paperback copy of the book here on Amazon. 

Genetic Engineering (Brave New World)

Aldous Huxley's dystopian novel Brave New World explored the concept of genetically engineered individuals. While we haven't reached the extreme level depicted in the book, modern genetic engineering techniques have made strides in areas like gene therapy, personalized medicine, and genetically modified organisms.

Haven't read Aldous Huxley's dystopian classic yet? Dive into Brave New World here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook. 

3D Printing (Various)

The idea of 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, has been a recurring theme in science fiction. Today, 3D printers can create objects ranging from small prototypes to complex medical implants and even entire houses, revolutionizing manufacturing and customization capabilities.

Cory Doctorow's Makers is by no means the first mention of 3D printing in sci-fi, and was published after the technology existed, but it imagines the capabilities of said tech to be beyond where it was at the time. Definitely worth a read if you haven't had a chance yet! 

Pick up Makers here on Amazon. 

Augmented Reality (Snow Crash)

Neal Stephenson's novel Snow Crash introduced the concept of augmented reality, where digital information overlays the real world. Now, with applications like Pokémon Go and Snapchat filters, we experience augmented reality through our smartphones, blurring the line between the physical and digital realms.

Read Snow Crash here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook. 

Gesture-based Interfaces (Minority Report)

A futuristic technology depicted in the film "Minority Report" was gesture-based interfaces. Today, we have devices like the Microsoft Kinect and Leap Motion that enable control and interaction through hand and body movements, revolutionizing gaming, virtual reality, and other industries.

Find Philip K. Dick's Minority Report along with other incredible stories here on Amazon. 

Science fiction has and continues to push the boundaries of imagination, inspiring inventors, scientists, and technologists to turn fiction into reality. The ten technologies mentioned above provide just a glimpse of the many science fiction concepts that have become an integral part of our lives. As we continue to explore the realms of science fiction, who knows what other amazing inventions may become reality in the future?

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Top Military Sci-Fi Books

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The Discover Sci-Fi community has thousands upon thousands of military sci-fi fans among its ranks. Military sci-fi is wildly popular, owing in part to its often epic scope, its focus on futuristic technology and breathtaking action, and among much else, its frequently thought-provoking themes. It’s no wonder we’re all drawn to it! There are almost too many great military sci-fi books out there to properly define the best of the genre, but we like a challenge, so we’re going to try. And you, dear readers, are essential to our mission.

Back in 2019 we polled our readers about your favorite military sci-fi series at the time, and after a cut-throat round of voting this top 10 list of titles prevailed.

Now, 5 years later, we turning the question back to you to see how the list may have changed.

So, we've catalogued twenty of the best military science fiction books and series in the poll down below, and we’d love for you to vote for your favorites. Vote for as many as you’d like, and if think of any that aren’t on the list but that you feel deserve a mention, please shout it out in the comments.

Okay, ready? Let’s do this!