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Contact Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 6,304 ratings

The future is here...in an adventure of cosmic dimension. 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.

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Product details

Listening Length 14 hours and 45 minutes
Author Carl Sagan
Narrator Laurel Lefkow
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date March 23, 2012
Publisher Simon & Schuster Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B007NVE0KA
Best Sellers Rank #3,749 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#33 in First Contact Science Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)
#36 in Alien Invasion Science Fiction
#82 in First Contact Science Fiction (Books)

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
6,304 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book interesting and enjoyable. They describe the story as thought-provoking, with a moving plotline and moments of drama and intrigue. Readers praise the character development as excellent and realistic. The book is described as entertaining and funny. Customers praise the author's intelligence and writing style.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

121 customers mention "Readability"117 positive4 negative

Customers find the book engaging and enjoyable. They say it's a great read for book clubs and science fiction fans.

"Another great book by Carl Sagan. I expected a great book by the Pulitzer Prize winner author of Cosmos... Carl Sagan ( see my review 5 stars) and I..." Read more

"I’ve always loved the movie. The science, space and the irony...." Read more

"...But there are other very pleasant and intelligent qualities in this book. After all it was written by a very respected scientist and science-writer...." Read more

"...A fun and engaging read." Read more

87 customers mention "Thought provoking"80 positive7 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking and engaging. They appreciate the clever blend of science and religion that intelligently incorporates real science and an honest opinion about unexplored areas. The subject is interesting and the overall storyline is excellent. Readers appreciate the author's skill in conveying the wonder of the book and making them care about the issues. Overall, it inspires, educates, and illuminates at the same time.

"...This is excellent Sci Fi. Also some real Astronomy and some Radio Astronomy is used. The book reads very well. A fast read...." Read more

"I’ve always loved the movie. The science, space and the irony...." Read more

"...Overall (4 stars) - An excellent story on the role of science in our present and future, made accessible through a strong lead, interesting plot,..." Read more

"...But there are other very pleasant and intelligent qualities in this book. After all it was written by a very respected scientist and science-writer...." Read more

44 customers mention "Story quality"41 positive3 negative

Customers enjoyed the story. They found it entertaining, with a moving plotline and great dialogue. The story weaved together the Biggest Questions, moments of drama, and intrigue. Readers described it as an interesting sci-fi story, touching on relationships with parents, and well organized from chapter to chapter. Overall, they felt the book was eye-opening and a good read.

"...in our present and future, made accessible through a strong lead, interesting plot, and a kindly professorial voice. Smart and fun...." Read more

"The story itself is amazing. This product arrived without the dust jacket, though." Read more

"This is my first book I've read by Carl Sagan and it was a spectacular ride. It teases all your emotions...." Read more

"...Most of all, there's no happy, wonderful, flowery ending...." Read more

20 customers mention "Character development"15 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the character development in the book. They find the main character Ellie to be fantastic and relatable. The portrayal of human awe in the presence of space is realistic and respectfully depicted.

"...The book reads very well. A fast read. The characters are well established and there is good interaction...." Read more

"I rated this book 5 stars because it respecfully portrays human awe in the presence of our philosophic questions: who are we, where are we going..." Read more

"...His character development is on point, with so many main characters its hard to fully understand their situations but Sagan had woven their origin..." Read more

"...and fancy construction of sentences and horrifyingly 'flowery' descriptions of people and things that do not ever matter to the story...." Read more

8 customers mention "Entertainment value"8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's entertainment value. They find it entertaining and humorous.

"...Smart and fun. I'd recommend it." Read more

"...A fun and engaging read." Read more

"A story that is not only entertaining but also somewhat feasible from a scientific point of view. Another gift to humankind by Carl Sagan." Read more

"...The scientific discussions sound real. The book is also funny: "He was a considerate and inventive lover...." Read more

8 customers mention "Intelligence"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's intelligence. They find Carl Sagan a brilliant scientist and respected writer. The story is about a gifted woman astrophysicist.

"...Carl Sagan was a world class astronomer and scientist that also worked as part of the Viking Mars spacecraft team...." Read more

"...After all it was written by a very respected scientist and science-writer...." Read more

"...Carl Sagan was a brilliant scientist, but a fictional writer, he was not...." Read more

"...All in all a wonderful book from a brilliant and talented writer and scientist." Read more

41 customers mention "Writing quality"28 positive13 negative

Customers have mixed views on the writing quality. Some find it well-written with compelling characters and dialogue, and a moving plotline. Others describe the writing style as tedious and hard to understand for lay readers.

"...A fast read. The characters are well established and there is good interaction...." Read more

"...accessible through a strong lead, interesting plot, and a kindly professorial voice. Smart and fun. I'd recommend it." Read more

"...The writing style of this is genuinely exhausting to read...." Read more

"...out and scientific, yet explains it to the reader in such an easy to understand way that like I said, is understood by the casual and hardcore reader..." Read more

11 customers mention "Pacing"5 positive6 negative

Customers have different views on the pacing of the book. Some find the last 25% well-paced and fast, while others feel it drags and drags out.

"...Sometimes, however, I felt the pace was a bit slow...." Read more

"...The book reads very well. A fast read. The characters are well established and there is good interaction...." Read more

"...Great to get the greater depth of character here in the book. Pacing kind of sucked and full of too much extraneous stuff. Still, pretty classic." Read more

"...The book was more of a slow burn. Far more detailed; far more... everything...." Read more

In order to read all the words on a single page you nearly have to crease over the rest of the book putting great strain on the binding
1 out of 5 stars
In order to read all the words on a single page you nearly have to crease over the rest of the book putting great strain on the binding
This is not a review of the content of the book but the item I received itself. This type of copy is very hard to read, by the end of it you will have a book with a broken binding. The inside margins are too tight. The book itself is at least an inch thick and the inside page margins are only about a quarter of an inch. In order to read all the words on a single page you nearly have to crease over the rest of the book putting great strain on the binding.The attached photo is the book folded open on a table. Spend more money don’t get the mass market paperback.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2010
    Another great book by Carl Sagan. I expected a great book by the Pulitzer Prize winner author of Cosmos... Carl Sagan ( see my review 5 stars) and I was not disappointed.

    As an amateur astronomer of 40 years I knew of the famous distinguished astronomer Carl Sagan. All of the basic astronomy used in this great Sci Fi I knew about but I know very little of Radio Astronomy. By reading this book I learned a few tidbits about Radio Astronomy. To me this book was fascinating.

    We see the central character Ellie Arroway growing up and eventually getting a PHD and becoming a world class astronomer in charge of a huge radio telescope... project Argus. Dr. Arroway leads a team and finds an ET signal originating from near the star Vega beaming to Earth. Project Argus receives a signal of prime numbers and then the The ETs beam back a radio signal received from us of Hitler and the Olympic games in the late 30s. Embedded in the signal is a message of instructions for us to build a 2 trillion dollar machine but there is problems getting the "primer" message to understand it. Eventually we get the "primer" and build the machine in the US, Russia and Japan. 5 people are selected to go into the machine ( Dr. Arroway is one of them) and using wormhole technology on double black holes are.....that's enough I wont ruin the book for you. Just to say the famous 5 are threatened to not say what they discovered and let the world think the machine did not work. But it did....! At the end of the book we learn the final message.

    Carl Sagan was a world class astronomer and scientist that also worked as part of the Viking Mars spacecraft team. One of the things I liked about Carl was his seemingly effortless way of making complex problems in astronomy and science understandable to the general public. That is a rare gift. Many times brilliant men/women can not write to the average laymen complex thoughts in a way for the less educated to understand. Carl was a master at this.

    This is excellent Sci Fi. Also some real Astronomy and some Radio Astronomy is used. The book reads very well. A fast read. The characters are well established and there is good interaction. As a novice to Radio Astronomy it was great learning a few very, very basic tidbits of Radio Astronomy.

    Also Contact was a major motion picture from Warner Brothers. I remember seeing the movie and liked it too. The book was just as good.5 stars for a very enjoyable book.

    Sadly Carl Sagan passed away in 1996. The world misses a great astronomer, scientist and a great man. Even though he never knew of me I considered Carl Sagan a friend who I respected very much.
    33 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2024
    I’ve always loved the movie. The science, space and the irony. I’ve toyed around with the idea of reading the book Contact for a long time and I’m glad I did. It’s very different than the movie in a good way.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2013
    1) Plot (5 stars) - After spending a lifetime listening to the stars, one astronomer finally hears a message to build a machine. But should humanity build it? What will the machine do? Will it be friendly or hostile? The decision pulls all facets of our modern society to the table for a heated debate and the tension of their interplay and the final result was fascinating. Sometimes, however, I felt the pace was a bit slow.

    2) Characters (4 stars) - Ellie is the brilliant scientist charging forward for the cause of the rational, while sometimes missing the subtleties of interpersonal relations or emotions. She's a romantic which puts her at odds with her fellow scientists, but also deeply analytical which puts her at odds with much of humanity. On top of it, she's a female in a male dominated profession which allows for sexual and gender conflict as well. I enjoyed riding along with her on this journey.

    3) Theme (5 stars) - Are we alone in the universe? It's so immense that it seems almost mathematically impossible for us to be the only "intelligent" life form. But if so, why haven't we made contact? Is it a lack of technology on our side or theirs? A lack of interest? A time or space distance too large to hurdle? Or are we just too different to understand each other? This was the surface question of the book, but underlying it was the theme of faith vs. empirical rationality, and how we need both to dream and advance. A message which was summed up beautifully in the book's conclusion.

    4) Voice (4 stars) - Sagan became famous for translating esoteric scientific principles into simple and engaging parlance for non-scientists, and this ability shines through in his prose. Through Sagan's eyes all the prosaic backdrop we take for granted--ants, stars, mathematic concepts--come alive with his curiosity and the teeming science behind them.

    5) Setting (4 stars) - The book takes place in a variety of science facilities on Earth, and a bit in outer space. All were described well and I felt transported there.

    6) Overall (4 stars) - An excellent story on the role of science in our present and future, made accessible through a strong lead, interesting plot, and a kindly professorial voice. Smart and fun. I'd recommend it.
    44 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • jorge j.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Muy barata
    Reviewed in Mexico on December 27, 2024
    Fabulosa novela
  • Mercedes
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book in great condition
    Reviewed in Spain on December 13, 2024
    One of the books that is a must in any sci-fi addict. Is totally worthy to buy in Amazon 2nd hand, price is very affordable and the book condition is fantastic.
  • arc_lite
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sehr gut
    Reviewed in Germany on October 17, 2023
    Buch in einen sehr guten Zustand, schneller Versand, vielen Dank.
  • AQL
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite books
    Reviewed in Canada on April 20, 2021
    The subject is fascinating. I particularly love the questions that are conjectured by the author should we be contacted. And I love the answers even more. Much more thorough than the movie starring Jody Foster (another favorite). Maybe the book deserves a mini series like some of today’s shows. A 2 hour movie could not do this justice, the movie Contact is just an appetizer. Well written. Quite an expansive vocabulary. I was happy to read it on my iPad w/ Kindle App so I could highlight a word I didn’t know and get the meaning right away.
  • Renato Morello
    5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutamente lindo!!
    Reviewed in Brazil on September 7, 2018
    A estória é um show. Em relação ao autor, qualquer apresentação é dispensável. Carl Sagan foi um cientista genial e que muito contribuiu para a divulgação da ciência, tendo influenciado milhares de pessoas, incluindo aquele que hoje dá sequência no seu trabalho de divulgação da ciência, o astrofísico americano Neil Degrasse Tyson (a propósito, não deixem de assistir à Série “Cosmos” apresentada por Tyson. Um show de ciência e conhecimento transmitidos de forma leve e compreensível). A estória do livro é linda. O autor conseguiu unir ciência com uma estória que é um verdadeiro thriller. Não dá vontade de parar de ler. É muito, muito legal. A estória é bem mais rica que a aquela contada no filme com Jodie Foster e Matthew McConaughey e tudo fica bem melhor explicado que no filme. Mas o filme também é excelente e foi por causa do filme que comprei o livro. É também uma mensagem clara de amor e da existência indubitável de Deus.