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Posted By: renfield Sep 26, 2004 - 11:22 am

I'm interested in reading more "first contact" stories, especially ones that really capture the feeling of wonder you get in "Contact". Stories that explore the difficulty of attempting to understand a truly alien culture would also be cool. Any suggestions?

Posted By: Magus Sep 26, 2004 - 11:40 am

No idea. Sorry, but I haven't read anything like this before. But I'm sure other people here have. Good luck trying to find them, though.

Posted By: Bmat Sep 26, 2004 - 01:16 pm

My favorite first contact series is by Cherryh- the Foreigner series. I didn't like the human protagonist at first, but the alien culture was interesting. Cherryh does a good job on alien cultures.

For another interesting series that deals with learning about aliens, try the Hospital series by White.

Posted By: Dark Knight Sep 26, 2004 - 01:39 pm

Most of the first contact stories I have read lately have been rubbish....(maybe that's abit harsh)

I did like Conquerors'Trilogy by Timothy Zahn however that I read sometime back...

Posted By: Aslan Oct 01, 2004 - 10:21 am

Just read and reviewed "The Sparrow".
http://speculativevision.com/forum/messages/15/5472.html

Clarke's "Childhood's End" is good... especially the first half of the book. Very memorable. Not sure if it won any awards or not.
http://speculativevision.com/forum/messages/15/961.html

Posted By: redshift Dec 09, 2004 - 04:57 pm

If you like "hard" science fiction, "Revelation Space" by Alastair Reynolds will pretty much blow your mind. Wonder? Check! Trying to figure out an alien culture? Check!

It can seem less accessible than it really is, because you've got multiple plots and a unique, well developed universe to get used to - but those are good things.

Another book that has what you're looking for, but is completely different than Revelation Space, is "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin. There's much less of the "wonder" element, but a lot of thoghtful exploration of a different culture.

Enjoy!

Posted By: Magus Dec 09, 2004 - 06:25 pm

I have a question.

What are the three kinds of close contact?

I know that thie third kind is actual contact.

Is the first kind knowing that they're there?

If so, then what's the second?

Posted By: Pannion Mar 25, 2005 - 12:48 pm

Harry Turtledove The Worldwar novels (In the Balance, Tilting the Balance, Upsetting the Balance, and Striking the Balance) chronicle the attempts of the Race to conquer and colonize Earth. But humanity proves to be much more tenacious and ingenious than the reptilian invaders ever expected, and the war for the planet soon turns to uneasy cohabitation. The Colonization novels (Second Contact, Down to Earth, and Aftershocks) explore what happens when Earthly and Race cultures begin to inevitably commingle.
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