amaustin's review against another edition
4.0
This book, for some reason, reminds me of my late grandfather. For that reason, it has a special place in my heart.
gabopagan's review against another edition
5.0
Finally read Contact. I only read the first part back in the early 90s. Very, very different from the movie. The movie should say "inspired by" instead of "based on". I'm amazed that this patron saint of modern atheism wrote such a faith affirming book that ends with ***************spoiler alert************** God exists and it likes math
lecterclarice's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
fletchie's review
4.0
As usual, no spoilers.
Carl Sagan's only novel is an enthralling read, though has clear marks of a first-time author.
I will summarise my opinions concisely:
- The language used is sophisticated but not overly flowery.
- Sagan was a prolific scientist, and there has been a great deal of research done for scientific accuracy in the book.
- The plot, while plodding and often tangential, is engaging.
- The characters are extraordinarily human, almost everyone has redeeming qualities, offset by their own personal faults. This makes it very easy to sympathise with many of them, especially the protagonist.
- The examination of religion and faith in comparison to the moderate atheism (I would describe myself as a moderate atheist) demonstrated by the protagonist is fair and well thought out.
- The examination of personal belief and morality, delving into love and loss and all the hardships that accompany those things, are utterly unexpected, and the most beautifully written parts of the book (my favourite aspect of the novel).
I may not read it again, at least for a very long time, but of the millions of books out there that you don't have time to read throughout your life, this one is worth reading at least once.
Carl Sagan's only novel is an enthralling read, though has clear marks of a first-time author.
I will summarise my opinions concisely:
- The language used is sophisticated but not overly flowery.
- Sagan was a prolific scientist, and there has been a great deal of research done for scientific accuracy in the book.
- The plot, while plodding and often tangential, is engaging.
- The characters are extraordinarily human, almost everyone has redeeming qualities, offset by their own personal faults. This makes it very easy to sympathise with many of them, especially the protagonist.
- The examination of religion and faith in comparison to the moderate atheism (I would describe myself as a moderate atheist) demonstrated by the protagonist is fair and well thought out.
- The examination of personal belief and morality, delving into love and loss and all the hardships that accompany those things, are utterly unexpected, and the most beautifully written parts of the book (my favourite aspect of the novel).
I may not read it again, at least for a very long time, but of the millions of books out there that you don't have time to read throughout your life, this one is worth reading at least once.
staticskyy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
jstamper2022's review against another edition
3.0
I really wanted to like this book, but the writing was so dry and dull.
scylla87's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
nickfourtimes's review against another edition
4.0
1) ''She next came upon one of the premier computer channels, dedicated to fantasy role-playing games and now fallen on hard times. Accessed to your home computer, it offered a single entry into a new adventure, today's apparently called Galactic Gilgamesh, in hopes that you would find it sufficiently attractive to order the corresponding floppy disk on one of the vending channels. Proper electronic precautions were taken so you could not record the program during your single play. Most of these video games, she thought, were desperately flawed attempts to prepare adolescents for an unknown future.''
2) ''At a few hundred kilometers altitude, the Earth fills half your sky, and the band of blue that stretches from Mindanao to Bombay, which your eye encompasses in a single glance, can break your heart with its beauty. Home, you think. Home. This is my world. This is where I come from. Everyone I know, everyone I ever heard of, grew up down there, under that relentless and exquisite blue.''
3) ''For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love.''
2) ''At a few hundred kilometers altitude, the Earth fills half your sky, and the band of blue that stretches from Mindanao to Bombay, which your eye encompasses in a single glance, can break your heart with its beauty. Home, you think. Home. This is my world. This is where I come from. Everyone I know, everyone I ever heard of, grew up down there, under that relentless and exquisite blue.''
3) ''For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love.''
tungstenmouse's review against another edition
I have no motivation to pick it back up.