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Brief First Encounter
A Quantum Leap in Science Fiction A ground breaking exploration of what happens when humanity faces its first contact with extraterrestrial intelligence presented in a manner that challenges conventions and engages readers with its ingenuity. Its departure from convention is a hallmark of the innovation that offers readers a fresh perspective on speculative storytelling. The book is a thought experiment that discusses how humanity might handle contact with extraterrestrial beings and is created based on investigation into real world scientific initiatives such as the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) and established protocols for potential extraterrestrial contact grounding it in a plausible reality that intrigues and challenges. A departure from conventional formulaic approach to science fiction by an exploration of social and economic consequences of the encounter with advanced intelligence. The description of Cronin, an alien civilization in pursuit of intelligent life on earth, is imaginative and detailed. It challenges readers to read a narrative that is not confined by the boundaries of established norms but instead propels them into unexplored worlds of imagination and contemplation. A multifaceted exploration that engages readers in both intellectual and emotional levels and reflects on the fundamental aspects of what it means to be human. The book is a mirror held to our society encouraging us to examine the beliefs and values that bind us together on Earth.
Reviews
In his fiction debut, Miezejeski crafts an intriguing study of humanity's first contact with extraterrestrials. Inhabitants of the planet Cronin, searching for signs of life outside of their system for the last 3,000 years, first discovered radio waves emanating from Earth in 1945, launching them on an intergalactic mission to observe and record information about this newly discovered planet (a process emboldened by the internet, which allowed them easy access to “over 90 percent of the knowledge gained about Earth”). Now, on the cusp of a “major geological event,” the Cronin society—a species that bears resemblance to humans but is covered in bright feathers—have determined it’s time to make first contact with Earth’s people.

Miezejeski’s world is as factual as it is creative, as he draws parallels between Cronin’s search for intelligent life and Earth’s same quest, albeit with differing results. “It's highly unlikely that any two intelligent life forms have or will make contact with each other during their limited lifespan in terms of the age of the universe,” Neil, a scientist on Earth, declares to an audience of museum donors, during the span of time it takes Cronin commander Gus to contact him through email, offering his planet’s knowledge base to an Earth struggling with conflict, disease, and global warming.

Though he draws from real life initiatives and scientific programs, Miezejeski’s narrative gets bogged down at times with minor grammar errors and the somewhat flat interactions between the Cronin civilization and Earthlings. The bulk of the story revolves around how Cronin contacts Earth, and the concerns that arise on Earth in response, but Miezejeski’s truly alien extraterrestrial world—with days that are 33 hours long, limited seasonal weather variation, and an absence of social exploitation—is immersive. Miezejeski closes with a curveball ending that will delight sci-fi fans.

Takeaway: Thought-provoking story of extraterrestrial life’s first contact with Earth.

Comparable Titles: Arthur C. Clarke, Liu Cixin.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: B

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