First Contact
The Story of Our Obsession with Aliens
Contributors
Formats and Prices
- On Sale
- Sep 30, 2025
- Page Count
- 272 pages
- Publisher
- Workman Publishing Company
- ISBN-13
- 9781523527779
Price
$13.99Price
$17.99 CADFormat
Format:
- ebook $13.99 $17.99 CAD
- Hardcover $27.00 $36.00 CAD
- Audiobook Download (Unabridged) $24.99
Buy from Other Retailers:
First Contact explores the ancient idea—and epic quest to prove—that we are not alone in the universe. Presented in a heavily illustrated cabinet of curiosities format, the book explores our fascination with aliens from early history to present day, including chapters on alien conspiracy theories, aliens in science fiction, the actual science behind our search for aliens, and what happens if and when they come…or, if we are in fact descended from them.
Each chapter is filled with bite-sized explainers and longer sections on meatier topics such as habitable zones, xenolinguistics, and UFO religions. Smaller topics include alien abductions, ancient astronauts, exodinosaurs, Project Cyclops, and the Great Moon Hoax.
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"Science reporter Ferreira offers a survey of the past, present, and future of humans in space and what (or, more compellingly, who), if anything, is up there waiting to be found.... Throughout, Ferreira maintains a lighthearted tone, mixing hard science with sharply comedic asides. While the core of the book is firmly situated in science, a standout early chapter charts the various archetypes of aliens in pop culture, ranging from monsters to peers. The style choices, from use of graphics to pullout explainers to the pithy chapter lengths, make First Contact a book that begs for return visits. Budding ufologists and alien skeptics alike will find something that alters their previous perceptions, providing enlightenment for anyone interested in discerning what lies beyond the stars.Booklist
YA/S: Teens interested in learning more about the science of space and the possibility of extraterrestrial life will find this highly readable and formatted in a similar manner to their textbooks."
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