Near future first contact novels?

[Ebonsword]

Over the past year I've read three Sci-fi novels that I really enjoyed. They are:

(1) Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke

(2) All Judgement Fled by James White

(3) The Black Cloud by Fred Hoyle

I'm having trouble, though, finding similar novels.


Here's what I'm looking for:

(1) Near future

(2) Discovery of alien artefact

(3) Humans only (at least as main characters). The aliens should be long-dead or, at least, mysterious and barely glimpsed.

(4) Fairly scientifically accurate


Any recommendations?

[D_Davis]

It's not near future, but it still sounds like something you would enjoy:

Ship of Fools by Richard Paul Russo

My review:

Playtime - an Arts and Culture Magazine » Blog Archive » Ship of Fools - By Richard Paul Russo

[gully_foyle]

2001? Contact (ignore the movie).

[Ian Whates]

Eon by Greg Bear springs to mind -- definitely Rama-influenced. Even though the politics were outdated almost as it was released and the narrative shoots off into some wierd and wonderful realms as the book develops, still well worth a read.

[Lucien21]

Jack McDevitt likes the archaeology contact type book.

The Hercules Text - A pulsar, drifting through the gulfs between the galaxies, begins to send a message that can only be artificial. A research team works to decipher the text while the public, Wall Street, the Vatican, and the international community react to the fact that we now know we are not alone.

The Engines of God - Why is there an artificial city, a simulation carved from rock, on an airless moon orbiting Quraqua? Why do cube-shaped satellites orbit Nok, the only known world with a living, if backward, civilization? Archeologists tracking the rise and fall of civilizations across several worlds note a mathematical correspondence between their mutual dates of destruction. What is going on? Priscilla Hutchins, a young pilot, helps a team of archeologists solve the riddle and keep alive. For the most part.

[murphy]

Julie Czerneda's trilogy Species Imperative. The first book is Survival, followed by Migration and then Regeneration.

[Omphalos]

Try Gateway, by Frederick Pohl. That one is a very, very good book and at least the first one in the series fits all your criteria.

You might enjoy The Listeners, by James Gunn too. It does not fit perfectly, but it does come pretty damn close.

Moving Mars, by Greg Bear (they discover dormant life on Mars) Marsbound, by Haldeman (they discover hidden life on Mars) & Mars, by Ben Bova (they discover archaeological remnants of a Martian culture) may interest you too. Marsbound is brand-spanking-new.

[kenpat]

The Mote in God's Eye, by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle.

Not quite what you wanted no long dead species but I thought it was good read.

[Connavar]

I saw the trailer for Keanu's new movie The Day the earth stood still and kept thinking i liked the idea of an alien trying exterminate humans to save the planet.

I of course know its a remake but i kept thinking hole day at work if there were some good SF books with the same theme.
Not about destroying humans thing but about an alien or aliens coming to earth in another way and similar reasons than the usual Childhood End type invasion.

Does what im asking make sense ?

[Quokka]

Misson of Gravity by Hal Clement is a good read with solid science, first contact from the other point of view.

[Scifi fan]

2001 was the first one that came to my mind. Robert Sawyer, a Canadian author, has also written several novels that fit your requirements.

[jojajihisc]

Originally Posted by Ebonsword

Here's what I'm looking for:

(1) Near future

(2) Discovery of alien artefact

(3) Humans only (at least as main characters). The aliens should be long-dead or, at least, mysterious and barely glimpsed.

(4) Fairly scientifically accurate


Any recommendations?

Parts of the Engines of God series, as already mentioned, fit this criteria very closely depending on your definition of "near future."

[Scifi fan]

The Omen series would be fairly close, except it's more horror as opposed to science fiction, and the "aliens" would be evil demons. The artifact would, of course, be the knives needed to kill Damien.

[Reading_fanatic]

Perhaps you could try Fade Out by Patrick Tilley

[D_Davis]

Originally Posted by Scifi fan

Robert Sawyer, a Canadian author, has also written several novels that fit your requirements.

Yes!

Calculating God is tremendous. One of my favorites.