Contact
by Carl Sagan
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Book Summary Information
Author: Carl SaganEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1985-10
ISBN: 0671434004
Number of pages: 432
Publisher: Simon Schuster Trade
Book Reviews of Contact
Book Review: Amazing
Summary: 5 Stars
He became so famous as an astronomer that it's easy to forget he was one heck of a fine wordsmith as well. Yes he was. You've watched six shows, at most, on PBS. Sesame Street, Are You Being Served, Monty Python's Flying Circus, The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy, Red Dwarf, and Cosmos with Carl Sagan. If you're brighter than me, throw in The McNeil-Lehrer Report or its sequel. But that's it.
Why COSMOS? Well, if I type "billions and billions" in quotes, you hear his voice in your head. Yes you do. The man made astronomy interesting because he was a wordsmith.
CONTACT is a novel by Carl Sagan. Copyright 1985, which works for me. I read it when it was new. Back in my security guard days, down in Tampa Florida. (Yo Bob!) I later saw the film, very well done, with Jodie Foster, but I can't remember it. One of the advantages of getting old.
How does the book stand the test of time? So well that I'm gonna recommend you get it right now. Of course the science is spot on, since this is Carl Sagan. If we ever do hear from somebody not of this earth, this is how it'll happen. But that's a given. What's easy to forget is that Sagan gave us some very well-drawn characters from his world in an eminently readable style. And, as always, accessible science that makes you marvel at the possibilities. Keep in mind that I've probably never used the word "marvel" in a book or movie review before. I'm too old and jaded to marvel. But heck, I marveled.
As if that weren't enough, he had so much fun predicting the future. This far down the road, we can see where he misfired, which was almost never. We can enjoy how accurate he often was. This is where he let his subtle humor roam free, and we can love him for his wit. These are the traits I didn't catch 20 years ago, because I was looking for aliens. Which he also delivers, somewhat, but I don't even care at this point. I just know I love this book.
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