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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
After receiving a radio message from space, a group of scientists work to decode the message. The message leads them to build a machine.
Great story that was bogged down by incessant repeated details. As for the science/ religion issues don’t tell me Sagan didn’t use this book to grind his axe.
As usual, too much politics for me. But he's not really a fiction writer, I guess.
It was an immediately captivating book. The scientific background is very well shown. A lot of things I had to stop and look up to see if they were real. I loved the alternate history part, where things happened in the book that aren’t real life, as If they are real. It made the read grab me more. A fantastic read.
I listened to the audiobook version. It was very different from the movie and much better than I expected.
Adorned this book and the film adaptation. I wasn't looking forward to the book ending. Sagan made me want to know more about what was out there in his world.
Though it took an embrassingly long time, I finally did sit down with this book and, to my surprise, read it in four sittings. Though I had been assured there were no "little green men" I was sure the science and math would be too much for me. I'm so glad I was wrong. This was, indeed, an excellent read. Uncharacteristically of me, I was very absorbed in the religion vs. science aspect to the book -- definitely a sign of a talented writer as I'm usually loathe to be involved in anything that even hints of a relgious discussion. Somehow, also, Sagan manages to make complex concepts easily understood. A very satisfying read that left me with a great deal to think about.
Carl Sagan is a very intelligent person. He tends to show it off in the concepts or phrasing he uses in this book and it gets to be somewhat of a nuisance at times. The story is solid, the characters are 3-dimensional, and the book is a good read. Different from the movie, although it's hard not to imagine Jodie Foster while reading.
Re-read after 20 years. I loved it when I originally read it - and it does not disappoint on the re-read. Better than I remember, and this time I caught more nuances (metaphors of ants, etc) as well as other things (alternate history timeline). And what really struck me this time was how pertinent the conflict of ideas & world view between science & religion & politics resonates still today, as well as Ellie's struggles within the STEM world because of reactions to her gender.
Overall it really reads like a half-way point between a Heinlein novel & a Crichton novel. So much hard science is woven through it, which is not surprising coming from Sagan; mixed in with a lot of ruminations on human social relationships; and at the same time an interesting conceit driving the plot forward.
I will acquiesce that it is not a perfect novel, but I still want to give it 5 stars anyway.
Overall it really reads like a half-way point between a Heinlein novel & a Crichton novel. So much hard science is woven through it, which is not surprising coming from Sagan; mixed in with a lot of ruminations on human social relationships; and at the same time an interesting conceit driving the plot forward.
I will acquiesce that it is not a perfect novel, but I still want to give it 5 stars anyway.