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Carl Sagan's fictional account of what it might be like if SETI finds evidence of extraterrestial life. Classic sci fi tale. I wish Sagan had written more novels!

A young scientist scorned by her colleagues for her work on the SETI project receives a radio signal from a distant star, which she interprets to be schematics for a space transport. Through her research into intelligent life in the galaxy, she learns that the answers to all of life's most profound questions are layered within each person's consciousness.

Astrophysicist Ellie Arroway picks up a transmission from outer space that is believed to be a message. The message is decoded and reveals instructions on how to build a machine. Facing strict opposition from other scientists, politicians and many religious who think this could be a cosmic trap, Arroway and her crew build and eventually board the machine. What they experience is remarkable and life altering but upon return they find that no one believes them - the records of their mission are blank and barely any time has elapsed since their departure. They find themselves coined as under psychological stress or simply - their trip was a hoax.

The classic story of finding oneself, even if you have to go to another world to do it.

Fascinating read. Made into successful Jodi Foster movie.

Surprisingly good. Much better than movie (though movie was ok too).

Quite different from the film -- five people are launched into outer space instead of the one (Jodie Foster) and there is no love affair with Palmer. Much dialogue about the conflict between science and religion - the map of the machine isn't even translated until more than halfway through the novel. Still, a good read.

This is one of the few contemporary novels i was ever able to Stomach, and it went further than that into being Pretty Sweet. Better than the movie. If you've seen the movie, or even if you haven't, heck, read this book.

In December, 1999, a multinational team journeys out to the stars, to the most awesome encounter in human history. Who or what is out there? In Cosmos, Carl Sagan explained the universe, In CONTACT, he predicts its future and our own. Must better than the movie even if it had Matt McConaughey as the star.

"In Cosmos, Carl Sagan explained the universe. In CONTACT, he predicts its future - and our own."

A classic good read about extraterrestrial existence. I read it after seeing the movie and really enjoyed it.

It's been a long time since I read this, but it's great. You may need to concentrate!