“Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.”― Arthur C. Clarke
This week we're talking about first contact books! Whether they evoke a sense of wonder, or a sense of terror (or both) we're here for it, and we want to hear which ones you think are the very best!
We've kickstarted this weeks poll with a few choices of our own, but we're dying to hear your favorites, so if yours aren't listed yet, add them to the poll below or to the one in our Facebook group. This round, you can nominate and vote for as many as you'd like; we'll pin you down to one selection next week.
What Are the Best First Contact Books of All Time?
The mote in God's Eye...*11%, 89 votes
89 votes11%
89 votes - 11% of all votes
Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke*10%, 81 vote
81 vote10%
81 vote - 10% of all votes
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury 7%, 62 votes
62 votes7%
62 votes - 7% of all votes
Contact by Carl Sagan 7%, 57 votes
57 votes7%
57 votes - 7% of all votes
Footfall by Larry Niven*6%, 54 votes
54 votes6%
54 votes - 6% of all votes
War of the worlds by H G Wells*6%, 48 votes
48 votes6%
48 votes - 6% of all votes
Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke*6%, 47 votes
47 votes6%
47 votes - 6% of all votes
Live Free or Die by John Ringo*4%, 30 votes
30 votes4%
30 votes - 4% of all votes
Little Fuzzy by H. Beam Piper*3%, 29 votes
29 votes3%
29 votes - 3% of all votes
A beautiful Friendship by David Weber*3%, 22 votes
22 votes3%
22 votes - 3% of all votes
Foreigner by C.J. Cherryh*3%, 21 vote
21 vote3%
21 vote - 3% of all votes
Nor Crystal Tears - Alan Dean Foster*3%, 21 vote
21 vote3%
21 vote - 3% of all votes
Eon by Greg Bear*2%, 20 votes
20 votes2%
20 votes - 2% of all votes
WorldWar series by Harry Turtledove*2%, 18 votes
18 votes2%
18 votes - 2% of all votes
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card*2%, 16 votes
16 votes2%
16 votes - 2% of all votes
On Basilisk Station by David Weber*2%, 14 votes
14 votes2%
14 votes - 2% of all votes
The Formic War series by Orson Scott Card*2%, 14 votes
14 votes2%
14 votes - 2% of all votes
Humanx Commonwealth series by Alan Dean Foster*2%, 14 votes
14 votes2%
14 votes - 2% of all votes
Dragon's Egg, by Robert L Forward*2%, 13 votes
13 votes2%
13 votes - 2% of all votes
C.J.Cherryh: 40,000 in Gehenna*1%, 12 votes
12 votes1%
12 votes - 1% of all votes
Decision at Doona Anne McCaffrey*1%, 12 votes
12 votes1%
12 votes - 1% of all votes
The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu 1%, 11 votes
11 votes1%
11 votes - 1% of all votes
The Event by Nathan Hystad 1%, 11 votes
11 votes1%
11 votes - 1% of all votes
Remnant Population by Elizabeth Moon 1%, 10 votes
10 votes1%
10 votes - 1% of all votes
Omega Force Series by Joshua Dalzelle*1%, 9 votes
9 votes1%
9 votes - 1% of all votes
First contact serie by Peter Cawdron*1%, 8 votes
8 votes1%
8 votes - 1% of all votes
Stranger in a Strange Land by Heinlein*1%, 8 votes
8 votes1%
8 votes - 1% of all votes
Agent to the Stars, by John Scalzi*1%, 8 votes
8 votes1%
8 votes - 1% of all votes
Hail Mary by Andy Weir*1%, 8 votes
8 votes1%
8 votes - 1% of all votes
Amaranthe series by GS Jennsen*1%, 7 votes
7 votes1%
7 votes - 1% of all votes
Arrival, Ryk Brown*1%, 7 votes
7 votes1%
7 votes - 1% of all votes
Anathem by Neal Stephenson 1%, 6 votes
6 votes1%
6 votes - 1% of all votes
A Hymn Before Battle by John Ringo*1%, 5 votes
5 votes1%
5 votes - 1% of all votes
Orbs Series by Nicholas Sansbury Smith*1%, 5 votes
5 votes1%
5 votes - 1% of all votes
Not Alone by Craig A. Falconer*0%, 4 votes
4 votes
4 votes - 0% of all votes
Under Darkness by Jasper T. Scott 0%, 3 votes
3 votes
3 votes - 0% of all votes
Duchy of Terra series by Glynn Stewart*0%, 3 votes
3 votes
3 votes - 0% of all votes
Hoka by Poul Anderson*0%, 3 votes
3 votes
3 votes - 0% of all votes
The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell*0%, 3 votes
3 votes
3 votes - 0% of all votes
Exforce by Craig Alanson*0%, 3 votes
3 votes
3 votes - 0% of all votes
Chocky by John Wyndham*0%, 3 votes
3 votes
3 votes - 0% of all votes
Julian May Intervention*0%, 2 votes
2 votes
2 votes - 0% of all votes
Illegal Aliens*0%, 2 votes
2 votes
2 votes - 0% of all votes
Lilith's Brood - Octavia E. Butler*0%, 2 votes
2 votes
2 votes - 0% of all votes
Ruins of the Earth by Christopher Hopper*0%, 2 votes
2 votes
2 votes - 0% of all votes
Enigma Score by Sherri Tepper*0%, 1 vote
1 vote
1 vote - 0% of all votes
The visitor Tony Harmsworth*0%, 1 vote
1 vote
1 vote - 0% of all votes
Koban Series by Stephen W Bennett*0%, 1 vote
1 vote
1 vote - 0% of all votes
Warship (Black Fleet Saga Book 1) by Joshua Dalzelle*0%, 1 vote
1 vote
1 vote - 0% of all votes
Eifelheim*0%, 1 vote
1 vote
1 vote - 0% of all votes
Total Votes: 832
Voters: 327
May 18, 2021
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https://discoverscifi.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/f21f1373-b136-4b78-8895-01d7615b4440_large.png9011600Discover Sci-Fihttps://discoverscifi.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/discover-scifi.pngDiscover Sci-Fi2021-05-20 07:46:232021-05-20 07:46:26What Are the Best First Contact Books of All Time?
6replies
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
Calculating God, by Robert J. Sawyer
Wouldn’t The Expanse qualify as a first contact story?
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.
Curse autocorrect and late at night. Story not Tory!
Old Mans War by John Scalzi
The Legacy of Heorot by Niven et al.