• Contact

  • By: Carl Sagan
  • Narrated by: Laurel Lefkow
  • Length: 14 hrs and 45 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (5,520 ratings)

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Contact  By  cover art

Contact

By: Carl Sagan
Narrated by: Laurel Lefkow
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Publisher's summary

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.

©1997 Carl Sagan (P)1997 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"Contact deals with issues...worth pondering. The range and depth of ideas is quite uncommon." ( New York Times Book Review)

"Like a good mystery, Contact keeps us curious to the end...ingenious and satisfying." (Newsweek)

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What listeners say about Contact

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    3,739
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  • 2 Stars
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WAY better than the movie!

just when I thought I knew what was going to happen I didn't and I was all like oh Carl Sagan that's f****** dope man!

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both loved it and struggled to finish

The narration was great, but the writing was so technical it detracted from the story.

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Thank you.

I'm glad I purchased the unabridged version. The movie Contact with Jodie Foster follows the book about 78% of the time. The ending is very different, I enjoyed them both.

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excellent movie and an excellent book

as a person who watched the movie before reading the book I have to say I actually like them both. The movie obviously truncated a lot of detail that was able to be included in the book version but also had a few points that weren't in the book and I think it stands very well on its own. The book has many extra details especially when it comes to the actual contact they make which made for an interesting addition versus what I saw in the movie. contact has been one of my favorite movies and now it is one of my favorite books as well.

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See the movie, Listen to the book.

While the movie maintains the general story, the book is significantly different and this a great companion to the movie and worth a listen. It is fun hearing familiar characters, but in an entirely different role along with new characters that were clearly merged in the movie as composite characters. If you love Carl Sagan, you'll want to see/hear both versions.

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Awe inspiring

A rich story. It only leaves more to be wondered. That may be the point!

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Delicate balance of hard science and imagination

Would you listen to Contact again? Why?

I will certainly listen to it again because I not only find the science elements informative and fascinating but I simply enjoy the beauty of Sagan's writing style.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The main character, of course! I could identify with her sense of possibility while walking the tight rope of reason and probability as finely as she does.

What about Laurel Lefkow’s performance did you like?

She resists the urge to use over the top voice variance in an attempt to distinguish between characters yet doesn't shy away from accents.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I wanted to consume this book greedily-in giant gulps and swallows but yet found myself pausing it simply to contemplate the depth and magnitude of some of the ideas presented.

Any additional comments?

This work of fiction is the perfect example of the marriage of art and science.

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Sagan at his best!!

expertly written, perfectly inspiring. love notes to the scientific method scattered throughout. instructional without being didactic

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Sounds just like Jodi Foster

Would you consider the audio edition of Contact to be better than the print version?

Yes because this book is read by the perfect actor.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Elle Airaway because of the characteristics I share with her.

Which scene was your favorite?

My favorite seen is when the Machine takes them through several worm holes to arive at their destination and they five characters meet the aliens before being told to go back.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No

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Science made easy and enjoyable

This book works in every way. The writing is done well. It's not to difficult to understand yet it's not immature. The plot is believable, and your captured from the start. The narrators voice is lovely and perfect for the story. Occasionally the volume decreases so you just turn it up. All in all, a job well done.

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