Read The Listeners Storyline:
After fifty-one long years of patient waiting, the message has finally arrived. They have dedicated their lives to trying to decipher the eerie silence that resounds from space and now there is finally a sound after decades of quiet. In the beginning there is a hail of celebration--the Project has finally produced results--but then the questions begin. What does the message mean? Could it be 'We come in peace' or 'Get ready for world domination'? The message baffles Earth. Only one man has the power to make the decision and it could mean intergalactic warfare if he makes the wrong choice. Director MacDonald holds in his hands the fate of Earth, the universe and the Project, which is dedicated to answering questions that have plagued humanity for centuries. Will he make the correct choice?A classic of science fiction, The Listeners 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.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 SaganPages of The Listeners :
