Contact

 Contact by Carl Sagan (1985, 432 pages)

 In his only full length fiction book, beloved astronomer and original Cosmos host Carl Sagan speculates on how aliens might first make contact with us mere Earthlings.

Ellie is a smart, driven, and creative astronomer who studies radio waves whose interest in aliens leads her to work for the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). She spends years pointing her radio telescopes at different points in the sky, looking for any sign of intelligent life, when one day she picks up on signals in repeating prime numbers. Ellie works with her team to unfold the message, fight the government wanting to shut it down, and collaborate beyond national borders in the name of humanity.

It's clear the aliens want communication, but the message received spark worldwide backlash, conspiracies, and religious bursts both for and against alien life. This is a heartwarming story about one woman's passion for extraterrestrials and views on the world around her, and her journey as one of the first humans to initiate contact. Anyone with a love of science, especially astronomy, is sure to enjoy this book!