Back to back, March’s pick for our book club is another science fiction read – Contact, by astronomer Carl Sagan. This is a hard science fiction novel that revolves around what might happen if humans were to make contact with aliens that are FAR more technologically advanced than we are. The story follows Eleanor “Ellie” Arroway from a young age and her fascination with number theory (transcendental numbers), science, astronomy. After graduating from Harvard, she becomes director of “Project Argus”, which is where the real fun comes in.
Questions of theology, politics, public speculation and even experts in the related fields raising concerns about the validity of things because of the fact certain actions may not be in the currently defined field of reality.
Overall, great book on one possible outcome of what might happen if we were to make contact. Also, at times, certain passages feel like its Carl Sagan arguing with himself about what it means to be a devout religious person and what they might believe, versus a scientists and what they might believe – very interesting inner dialogue. The only thing that might deter people from finishing this novel is the hard science. Unlike other science fiction books, this one contains a lot of math, astronomy, physics, chemistry, etc jargon that can get a little dense – after all, it is written by Carl Sagan.
I rate this a solid 4/5 and would recommend anyone with an interest in science, aliens, conspiracy theories, or all of the above!