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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Many is the story about first contact with alien races. Few is the story that does it profoundly. This is one of those few.
Mr. Sagan wields a double-edged pen. He can talk about advanced astrophysics in a manner that even blockheads like yours truly can understand. That would make the book worthy enough but he wasn't satisfied with doing just that. He also showed the ability to create one of the great characters is Science Fiction: Ellie Arrowway. In a genre known for its poor treatment of the fairer sex, Mr. Sagan's Ellie proves exceptional in the truest sense of the word. She's on the vanguard that decrypts the extraterrestrial communication and deals with realistic misogyny. Another interesting gender twist is the President of the US, she's a woman, too.
Aside from this, the reaction surrounding the first communication is what you'd expect: distrust and religious fanaticism. The powers-that-be in all governments would be threatened by contact with a clearly superior race. Life on other planets doesn't seem to be accounted for in most of the world's religions, most of them scramble to either reinterpret centuries old scriptures or race to declare the communication the work of whatever devil figure they believe in.
The book doesn't hold much action, but that doesn't detract from its power. There's a lot of scientific work to decrypt the signal and political posturing surrounding the findings. But something I wasn't expecting was how big an impact religion would have. There's quite a bit of back and forth between science and religion. And it's very well done. Even though the aliens don't show up until late, and don't remain on screen for too long I found that didn't take away from the story either. Then there's the ending. I found it completely unexpected but at the same time, I don't see how the story could have ended differently.
This book jumped near the top of my favorite books and unexpectedly so. I found it to be the very definition of a good read. Though, I would hesitate to recommend it to you if you're not a sci-fi fan. It may be a bit too science heavy for you. I don't mean that as an insult to your intelligence, but rather as an acknowledgement that reading about science isn't exactly enthralling to everyone.
Mr. Sagan wields a double-edged pen. He can talk about advanced astrophysics in a manner that even blockheads like yours truly can understand. That would make the book worthy enough but he wasn't satisfied with doing just that. He also showed the ability to create one of the great characters is Science Fiction: Ellie Arrowway. In a genre known for its poor treatment of the fairer sex, Mr. Sagan's Ellie proves exceptional in the truest sense of the word. She's on the vanguard that decrypts the extraterrestrial communication and deals with realistic misogyny. Another interesting gender twist is the President of the US, she's a woman, too.
Aside from this, the reaction surrounding the first communication is what you'd expect: distrust and religious fanaticism. The powers-that-be in all governments would be threatened by contact with a clearly superior race. Life on other planets doesn't seem to be accounted for in most of the world's religions, most of them scramble to either reinterpret centuries old scriptures or race to declare the communication the work of whatever devil figure they believe in.
The book doesn't hold much action, but that doesn't detract from its power. There's a lot of scientific work to decrypt the signal and political posturing surrounding the findings. But something I wasn't expecting was how big an impact religion would have. There's quite a bit of back and forth between science and religion. And it's very well done. Even though the aliens don't show up until late, and don't remain on screen for too long I found that didn't take away from the story either. Then there's the ending. I found it completely unexpected but at the same time, I don't see how the story could have ended differently.
This book jumped near the top of my favorite books and unexpectedly so. I found it to be the very definition of a good read. Though, I would hesitate to recommend it to you if you're not a sci-fi fan. It may be a bit too science heavy for you. I don't mean that as an insult to your intelligence, but rather as an acknowledgement that reading about science isn't exactly enthralling to everyone.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
when i was 9 years old i stopped believing in god and when i read this at 14 i suddenly saw him everywhere so. means a lot to me
yeah i get why this is foundational lol. it does perfectly capture the wonder of space and other lifeforms and the human-ness of humanity all at once.
As an atheist, the spirituality throughout the novel touched me very deeply. Contact is a rarity. It is a science fiction novel that doesn't flaunt the supposedly superiority of absolutely rational and emotionless thought, while also remaining critical of dogmatism. Sagan's protagonist, Ellie, is also brilliant, and many who read this book forget that this is her story as well.
Ultimately, Contact is a story about the human race. We are deeply flawed and obsessed with centering the universe around us, when in fact we are (most likely) not that special. It's a sobering reminder that we, religious folks and atheists alike, don't know nearly as much as we think we do. But most of all, I believe Contact shows us how incredibly important human beings are to one another. Perhaps all the answers to the universe are truly right here on earth.
Ultimately, Contact is a story about the human race. We are deeply flawed and obsessed with centering the universe around us, when in fact we are (most likely) not that special. It's a sobering reminder that we, religious folks and atheists alike, don't know nearly as much as we think we do. But most of all, I believe Contact shows us how incredibly important human beings are to one another. Perhaps all the answers to the universe are truly right here on earth.
Intense physics language aside, Carl Sagan writes a captivating story of religion, science, and belief. He has really optimistic, yet realistic, takes on international relations and how space travel would effect them. And he builds a complex, flawed, and relatable main character. A lovely, though long, read!
One of the best books I've read in a while - a great dialogue between science and religion. Still relevant to read in 2022.