Aurthor:Kevin D. Randle

ISBN 0-441-01039-3

The following review was contributed by: Paul Lappen & CLICK TO VIEW Paul Lappen's Reviews

Set in near future Earth, a signal has been received
from space whose origin can't be explained. The
initial thought is that it comes from one of the
planets or moons in this system, or that it's some
previously unknown pulsar or other interstellar noise
maker. All that is known about the source of the
signal is that it is 50 light years away, and that it
is heading in Earth's general direction. For a few
weeks, the signal is lost; when it is regained, "it"
is only 30 light years away, and still heading
generally toward Earth. All known attempts to decipher
the signal fail; the possibility is that the signal is
internal, from ship to ship, and not meant as a
message to another species.

Meantime, an ambitious American state senator latches
on to the issue as a way to propel himself to
Washington. Using some very questionable science, and
some huge jumping to conclusions, he does a fine job
of changing the public's focus from Unexplained Signal
From Space to ALIEN INVASION! Panic and rioting
spreads all over the world. (If this really is an
invasion, how is stealing anything not already nailed
down going to help?) The initial government and
military response is to look like they are doing
something (it's probably nothing, or this will quickly
blow over). By this time, "it" is less than ten light
years away, and still heading toward Earth.

An obsolete space station, already in orbit, is
retrofitted with appropriate engines and sent to the
edge of the solar system. All they can do is to make
themselves as noticeable as possible, and hope the
aliens stop and have a look. They do stop, but First
Contact ends up being rather anticlimactic.

This one is really good. The first of a four-part
series, it focuses more on the people involved than on
the science or the Contact part. It's a strong,
well-done piece of writing.