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Contact - Carl Sagan Book Review

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Review Summary
A message came from the stars and scientists are building a machine following the sent instructions
irina, Resident Scholar

Aspiring scientist receives high-tech code believed to be from outer space, but coming from a different source. Later made into a superb film starring Jodie Foster.
David L., Resident Scholar


Detailed literary breakdown of Contact
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 60%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 10%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20%




Tone of book - very upbeat
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story Yes
Plotlets: - exploring a wondrous planet or phenomena - generally friendly contact with alien(s)
Tech./$$$/Info hunt Yes
Stealing/recovering/destroying - info about lifeform(s)/society/phenomena
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Inventing-of-item story? Yes

Main Character
Identity: - Female
Profession/status: - scientist
Age: - 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - none
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Setting
Terrain - Water
Earth setting: - 20th century
Takes place on Earth? Yes
Planet outside solar system? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only) - some scientific explanation - quite a lot of techical jargon
Sex in book? Yes
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
Most similar books to Contact
Empty Cities of the Full Moon by Howard V. Hendrix
Picoverse by Robert A. Metzger
Hunger Pangs by Greg London
The Zap Gun by Philip K. Dick
Sixth Column by Robert A. Heinlein




Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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