THE LISTENERS [Mass Market Paperback]

James Gunn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 12, 1985

A classic of science fiction, this book predicted and inspired the creation of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI)—the organization dedicated to the search for extraterrestrial life. A tale of contact with alien life hailed by leaders of SETI organizations and today's leading science fiction authors as hugely influential, the story appeals to both science fiction readers and the hundreds of thousands of members of various SETI organizations. This replaces 034530036X.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A fascinating ... view of the many responses of mankind to the coming confrontation with intelligent aliens ... First rate science fiction." -- Publishers Weekly

"A must for any library whose readers look beyond their feet." -- Library Journal

"One of the finest books of speculative fiction ever written ... strong, thoughtful, marvelously human, and ... without flaw ... An unforgettable experience." -- Harlan Ellison

"One of the very best fictional portrayals of contact with extraterrestrial intelligence ever written." -- Carl Sagan --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

James Gunn is the author of 38 books, including The Joy Makers, Kampus, The Dreamers, and The Immortals. He has served as the president of the Science Fiction Writers of America and the Science Fiction Research Association. He has won Hugo, Pilgrim, and Eaton awards and has been a professor at the University of Kansas for 40 years. He lives in Lawrence, Kansas.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey (April 12, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 034530036X
• ISBN-13: 978-0345300362
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,179,790 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than Contact???, July 18, 2003

By 

A. Wolverton (Crofton, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: THE LISTENERS (Mass Market Paperback)

I can't tell you if James Gunn's `The Listeners' is better than `Contact' simply because I haven't read Carl Sagan's book. But I have read Gunn's, and I can say that Sagan would have to have moved several planets in order to come close to the quality of `The Listeners.'

Scientist Robert MacDonald is the director of "The Project," a study of sounds coming from the stars. MacDonald firmly believes that life is out there and that intelligent beings will eventually communicate with humans. He and others like him have been listening for over 50 years, but they've heard only silence. Until now.

A cryptic message arrives, but what does it mean? With the threat of the project being shut down, MacDonald desperately seeks to keep his vision alive, but the cost is high.

`The Listeners' is much more than just a "first contact" story. The writing is excellent and the drama is far above what you would expect. The more we learn about communicating with other beings, the more we find we don't know about communicating with each other. An excellent read.

240 pages

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Classic "First Contact" Novels, February 10, 2000

By 

Nichole Long "Nichole" (Alabama, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Listeners (Hardcover)

On a desperate hunt one summer day for that science-fiction rarity -- a sci-fi story that followed actual scientific laws and did not try my intelligence and patience, I accidentally discovered two books at a used book store. One of these books was The Listeners.

I was in heaven that late summer. This was real science fiction. This book was fantastic! There were no "starships" or "Deathstars." There were only well-drawn, complex, and brilliant characters using their scientific and technical gifts.Obviously, as one reviewer had already observed, this "first contact" novel was the inspiration for Carl Sagan's work "Contact." In my opinion, "The Listeners" is the better-written book, even though I will always remain a huge fan of the late - and forever great - Carl Sagan.

10 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars To many quotes not enough story., October 12, 2004

By 

J. Davidson "TF Lothar" (Omaha) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Listeners (Paperback)

After seeing the reviews of this book I was really looking forward to it. In general I love the hard science fiction stories and prefer them overall. I had to struggle to finish this book and did not devour it like I do most novels I read. The reason for this and the reason I rate it so low are all the quotes in the book. You can't go a page without seeing some quote from another source. I really do like that stuff in my stories but my god every other thought in this story they go off and have to have some verse that has some deep inner meaning and importance. If I wanted to read Dante I would read Dante. If you took out all the extra quotes from other books and stories you would have a book half the size.

Again I usually love little tidbits of thought in my stories but moderation is the key, here it goes way overboard to the point I feel like the story itself wasn't fully developed to the level it could have been.