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cathyatratedreads's review against another edition
4.0
Fun little book about Earth being contacted by aliens. The President of the United States is dim-witted and narrow-minded, so he makes a mess of things for himself. The aliens are mostly like us; their ambassador has a wacky sense of humor, so he dresses up first as a Hasidic Jew and later as an Ali G wannabe.
There are all kinds of great references to Woody Allen movies, Marshall McLuhan and the fourth wall, Chinese food and Bundt cakes, PTAs and much more. Kind of Douglas Adams-like, doesn't take itself seriously but kind of does explore some "serious" topics at the same time. Witty, hilarious. I had a great time reading it.
Read my full review, including a rating for content, at RatedReads.com: https://ratedreads.com/first-contact-clean-fiction-book-review/
There are all kinds of great references to Woody Allen movies, Marshall McLuhan and the fourth wall, Chinese food and Bundt cakes, PTAs and much more. Kind of Douglas Adams-like, doesn't take itself seriously but kind of does explore some "serious" topics at the same time. Witty, hilarious. I had a great time reading it.
Read my full review, including a rating for content, at RatedReads.com: https://ratedreads.com/first-contact-clean-fiction-book-review/
cdeane61's review against another edition
4.0
Laugh out loud funny. Mandery writes like a mash-up of Christopher Buckley and Kurt Vonnegut, droll wit mixed with plain (but funny) insights into the human (and not so human) condition.
This book may not be for everyone, but he nailed any demographic I might belong to.
Set in the near future, it is, as stated in the title, a book about first contact between humanity and an alien entity, an unceremonial one, with a sense of humor.....hilarity ensues.
This book may not be for everyone, but he nailed any demographic I might belong to.
Set in the near future, it is, as stated in the title, a book about first contact between humanity and an alien entity, an unceremonial one, with a sense of humor.....hilarity ensues.
debarthel's review against another edition
2.0
Witty. Ridiculous. Confusing. Exciting. Almost any word could be used to describe this book. While it is not in the realm of books I generally read, it was given to me out of kindness and therefore I read it. I enjoyed it for what it was, having no preconception of what it might be about before beginning it. If you're interested in a love story, tied together with a peaceful alien encounter, the end of the universe, and the luck of a sandwich store, read this book. You will laugh, you will wonder what the author was thinking, and you will hopefully enjoy it as well.
riverdogbookco's review against another edition
3.0
First Contact combines Kurt Vonnegut and Douglas Adams into sci-fi literary fiction that will have you chuckling almost til the very end. The one problem with it is that the author couldn’t keep his own two cents out of it, so begins to interject with his own drivel, particularly toward the end. While I do recommend reading this because it was funny, relevant to the recent political state (as in pre-Obama) of the US, and if nothing else, will instill in you a desire to reread the original great gentleman, do prepare yourself to have the author talk out his own problems at you.
The story is really about Ralph Bailey, the current U.S. President’s attache, and the course of his life pre-and-post alien contact. The hyper-intelligent beings from the planet Rigel-Rigel have contacted Earth. They’ve calculated, you see, that the people of Earth are on a bad personal trajectory, heading for the ruination of the entire planet if they don’t change their lifestyles soon. Using drugged bundt cake and fruit punch, the aliens attempt to encourage the people of Earth, or certainly the President and those at the official first dinner, to have an enlightened experience and reevaluate their course in life. As humans tend to have a contradictory nature, not all goes according to plan.
The reader is also introduced to Ned, a Rigelian ambassador, and his wife Maude, who is having some driving issues on their home planet. Jessica Love, Ralph’s girlfriend, features heavily, as well, as do Woody Allen movies, Dr. Pepper, Orthodox Jews, hip-hop, YouTube, and the quite religious views of the President of the United States.
Does First Contact work as political commentary? Yes. Does it work as a comedy? Assuredly. Does it work as a platform for either therapy or a personal ad for the author? No. But once you get over that bit, enjoy the other bits, and laugh out loud.
The story is really about Ralph Bailey, the current U.S. President’s attache, and the course of his life pre-and-post alien contact. The hyper-intelligent beings from the planet Rigel-Rigel have contacted Earth. They’ve calculated, you see, that the people of Earth are on a bad personal trajectory, heading for the ruination of the entire planet if they don’t change their lifestyles soon. Using drugged bundt cake and fruit punch, the aliens attempt to encourage the people of Earth, or certainly the President and those at the official first dinner, to have an enlightened experience and reevaluate their course in life. As humans tend to have a contradictory nature, not all goes according to plan.
The reader is also introduced to Ned, a Rigelian ambassador, and his wife Maude, who is having some driving issues on their home planet. Jessica Love, Ralph’s girlfriend, features heavily, as well, as do Woody Allen movies, Dr. Pepper, Orthodox Jews, hip-hop, YouTube, and the quite religious views of the President of the United States.
Does First Contact work as political commentary? Yes. Does it work as a comedy? Assuredly. Does it work as a platform for either therapy or a personal ad for the author? No. But once you get over that bit, enjoy the other bits, and laugh out loud.
acegas's review
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
jason_as's review against another edition
2.0
Pretty good. Funny, if a bit too Hitchhiker's-y. Likable characters, relatively creative. Wouldn't want to reread it, but it was a decent way to spend a short amount of time.
cullen_mi's review against another edition
2.0
I love Douglas Adams. I love Kurt Vonnegut. I love sci-fi comedies, books about Presidents, and themes of atheism. On paper I should love this book. But I actually hated it.
I felt the author was trying way too hard to earn the Adams/Vonnegut reputation. Every page has a paragraph of an aside from the author talking about some little thing, with a similar voice as the Guide from HHGTTG. The guide was funny. This was not.
Perhaps I was just in a bad mood every time I picked up the book, but I never laughed once, and most attempts at humor just made me roll my eyes.
I felt the author was trying way too hard to earn the Adams/Vonnegut reputation. Every page has a paragraph of an aside from the author talking about some little thing, with a similar voice as the Guide from HHGTTG. The guide was funny. This was not.
Perhaps I was just in a bad mood every time I picked up the book, but I never laughed once, and most attempts at humor just made me roll my eyes.
trin's review
4.0
It's like [a:Vonnegut|2778055|Kurt Vonnegut|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1233193902p2/2778055.jpg], but without the occasionally creepy treatment of women and minorities! This was seriously fun. There are alien con men and a president obsessed with his underpants and a cheerful bludgeoning of the fourth wall. It’s clever and funny and sort of slyly about stuff. Now I only wish it were an easier sell. I managed to briefly get it onto the bestseller list at our store, though at the very bottom, and this only through very nearly physically forcing it into customers’ hands. I generally have a hard time selling anything if, in describing the plot, I have to use the word “aliens.” ([b:The Sparrow|334176|The Sparrow|Mary Doria Russell|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1230829367s/334176.jpg|3349153] was a non-starter for me, too, although I did try.) “Time travel” also doesn’t get me very far, and I doubt “amnesia” or “apocalyptic shenanigans” would do terribly well either. All the things I love, and my customers turn up their noses! Oh, watch me shake my head and sigh.
This is honestly very good, though. You should read it even if they won’t.
This is honestly very good, though. You should read it even if they won’t.
alittlespook's review
3.0
The beginning of the book was really funny, witty, and interesting. The odd format of the book - the story would progress, then pause while the author explained something (usually something silly) - was new and pretty hilarious.
A couple of hundred pages later, it got a little monotonous. Yeah, we get it, Mr. Author, we only get to read a paragraph of the story at a time to make way for your little monologue stuff - but seriously hurry up, okay? I don't generally speed read through fiction, but I will admit to doing so for this book.
Still, I liked the straightforward and inventiveness (in a paradoxical copying-but-saying-straight-out-you're-copying way) of the story.
A couple of hundred pages later, it got a little monotonous. Yeah, we get it, Mr. Author, we only get to read a paragraph of the story at a time to make way for your little monologue stuff - but seriously hurry up, okay? I don't generally speed read through fiction, but I will admit to doing so for this book.
Still, I liked the straightforward and inventiveness (in a paradoxical copying-but-saying-straight-out-you're-copying way) of the story.
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