First contact isn't all fun and games. Ariel Blum is pushing thirty and doesn't have much to show for it. His computer programming skills are producing nothing but pony-themed video games for little girls. His love life is a slow-motion train wreck, and whenever he tries to make something of his life, he finds himself back on the couch, replaying the games of his youth. Then the aliens show up. Out of the sky comes the Constellation: a swarm of anarchist anthropologists, exploring our seas, cataloguing our plants, editing our wikis, and eating our Twinkies. No one knows how to respond--except for nerds like Ariel who've been reading, role-playing and wargaming first-contact scenarios their entire lives. Ariel sees the aliens' computers, and he knows that wherever there are computers, there are video games. Ariel just wants to start a business translating alien games so they can be played on human computers. But a simple cultural exchange turns up ancient secrets, government conspiracies, and unconventional anthropology techniques that threaten humanity as we know it. If Ariel wants his species to have a future, he's going to have to take the step that nothing on Earth could make him take. He'll have to grow up.
Constellation Games
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am half way through and enjoying the book so much I needed to share. It is a really fun book about first contact, with believable characters who wouldn't be out of place in a cool box set interacting with aliens who are, surprise!, individuals too.
I'm not a gamer but the focus on games still worked for me and was a clever bridge. I did get the 'Hey Ash, what you playing?' reference, which made me wonder how many others I had missed.
Looking forward to his next book already. Such a joyful antidote to the rote formulaic rubbish so many are churning out.
I'm not a gamer but the focus on games still worked for me and was a clever bridge. I did get the 'Hey Ash, what you playing?' reference, which made me wonder how many others I had missed.
Looking forward to his next book already. Such a joyful antidote to the rote formulaic rubbish so many are churning out.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By M. Gadhvi
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I haven't enjoyed a book this much for a long time. It is clever, funny, warm, imaginative and deeply moving. I encourage you in the strongest terms to read it.
This book manages the charming balancing act of telling a fun and interesting story about first contact with a subtle examination of human relationships, politics and society. There are layers and layers to enjoy.
The top layer is how Ariel Blum, computer game designer, gets involved in Earth's first contact with extra-terrestrials. I am not a gamer, so I suspect that there is tasty goodness that passed me by, but the book does not require in-depth gaming knowledge to understand or enjoy. This is not a "hard science" piece of science fiction either - though there are plenty of fascinating and interesting concepts scattered throughout - it is more interested in the cultural and social effects of technology - what does humanity mean in the context of a wider, populated universe? It manages to ask these questions via a funny and entertaining plot and even, by the end, offer some thought-provoking answers.
I have just finished reading the book and will definitely continue to think about it, but I wanted to share how much I enjoyed it.
This book manages the charming balancing act of telling a fun and interesting story about first contact with a subtle examination of human relationships, politics and society. There are layers and layers to enjoy.
The top layer is how Ariel Blum, computer game designer, gets involved in Earth's first contact with extra-terrestrials. I am not a gamer, so I suspect that there is tasty goodness that passed me by, but the book does not require in-depth gaming knowledge to understand or enjoy. This is not a "hard science" piece of science fiction either - though there are plenty of fascinating and interesting concepts scattered throughout - it is more interested in the cultural and social effects of technology - what does humanity mean in the context of a wider, populated universe? It manages to ask these questions via a funny and entertaining plot and even, by the end, offer some thought-provoking answers.
I have just finished reading the book and will definitely continue to think about it, but I wanted to share how much I enjoyed it.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
The book starts out as high-speed, irreverent, light hearted comedy/hard scifi. It then gradually morphs into something quite important and touching. Bravo!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Cultural Space Invaders
I finally caved and bought Constellation Games by Leonard Richardson after hearing yet another endorsement from Cory Doctorow on a podcast. I'm glad I did. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Clever Spud
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
What starts as a slight story about alien contact slowly blossoms into something far more satisfying. Funny and poignant .
Published 2 months ago by moonmoth
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting concept, not the most exciting.
I bought this book based on Cory Doctorow's glowing review (and he certainly knows his stuff). I enjoyed the premise but I found this a really hard book to get through. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Brian Sargent
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant, want more!
I loved it, could not put it down, best read I have had in a long time. Really was flawless is pace, content and original idea's
Just wish it was part of a series!.
Just wish it was part of a series!.
Published 2 months ago by Gavin Berry
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