ContactContact
Score Classic
What it's about
When a signal is discovered that seems to come from far beyond our solar system, astronomer Ellie Arroway and an international team of scientists set out to find its source. What follows is a journey to the stars and the most extraordinary encounter in human history.
Why it's worth reading
It was one of the ten best-selling books of 1985. Carl Sagan, the great science communicator, wrote a novel that's as much about science and faith as about aliens.
You'll love it if you liked
Cosmos
Project Hail Mary
The Three-Body ProblemGood to know
It's thoughtful rather than action-packed. The 1997 film with Jodie Foster is also beloved.
By the numbers
- Readers72 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller62 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #67 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #103 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #235 of the 762 classics we rank
- #743 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous
More by Carl Sagan
Cosmos
The Dragons of Eden
Broca's Brain: Reflections on the Romance of ScienceIf you like this, read next
The Lord of the Rings
Hyperion
The Dispossessed
Foundation
Ficciones
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the GalaxyExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Contact worth reading?
Yes. It was one of the ten best-selling books of 1985. It ranks #743 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 75.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Contact about?
When a signal is discovered that seems to come from far beyond our solar system, astronomer Ellie Arroway and an international team of scientists set out to find its source. What follows is a journey to the stars and the most extraordinary encounter in human history.
How long does it take to read Contact?
About 11 hours (432 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Contact?
If you liked it, try Cosmos by Carl Sagan, Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir or The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu.