What Are the Best First Contact Books of All Time?

6 replies
  1. Franklin
    Franklin says:

    Scary prospect: how would we, as individuals and as a species conduct ourselves in a “first contact” situation. Given our human history, from the differing perspectives of philosophy, economics, religion, racial attitude and moralities, I’m not impressed we would do well.

    The story list is profound in its reach, covering many of the issues I have concerns about.
    Not on the list is H Beam Piper’s “Fuzzy Sapiens” – a tale of sapients treated like talking pets!

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  2. Alice Seidner
    Alice Seidner says:

    how do you choose just one? Half a dozen of my all time favorites are on this list. Missing is Golden Dream: A Fuzzy Odyssey by Ardath Mayhar or Little Fuzzy by H Beam Piper.

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  3. Sue
    Sue says:

    I always liked Clifford Simak’s first contact short stories. I can’t remember the name off it, but there’s one about a plant like alien and an old farmer. The farmer gives up his store of silver dollars to mend the crashed spaceship, and the alien gives him its ‘companion’. There’s no real communication as such, but it’s a great Tory. I also liked Brian Stablefords Black Swan series.

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