Worst Contact

STORIES OF ALIEN CONTACT GONE WRONG. Will it be, "Greeting, fellow Sentients" or, "Nice Planet—we'll take it”? These stories from SF greats answer the question, "Are we alone in the universe?" with a resounding, "No, but we wish we were!"

When the first contact between humans and aliens from another planet happens, will they say, “Take me to your leader,” or is “Surrender, puny primitive bipeds” more likely? Or maybe, “Hello there, I’m selling the latest edition of the Galactic Encyclopedia, and no planet should be without a set,” might be the first words from the alien visitor. 

Ever since H.G. Wells wrote The War of the Worlds, science fiction writers have speculated on what the first contact might be like. From attacking invaders to wise and benevolent visitors who are ready to solve all our problems for us, from horror stories to hilarious satire, with all the stops in between, including plenty of tales in which the aliens are the ones who wish they’d stayed at home and never come across Earth and its inhabitants.

With stories by such science fiction masters as Poul Anderson, David Drake, William Tenn, Sarah A. Hoyt, Tony Daniel, and more, this is a collection filled with chills, thrills, and laughter, all reporting on what happens when First Contact turns into Worst Contact. 

“From First to Worst” by Hank Davis © 2016 by Hank Davis. Published by permission of the author.

“Puppet Show” by Fredric Brown originally appeared in Playboy, November 1962. © 1962 by HMH Publishing Company. Reprinted by permission of Barry Malzberg for the author’s estate.

“Contact!” by David Drake originally appeared in Analog, October 1974. © 1974 by Condé Nast Publications, Inc. Reprinted by permission of the author.

“The Flat-Eyed Monster,” copyright © 1955, 1983 by William Tenn; first appeared in Galaxy; reprinted by permission of the author’s estate and the estate’s agents, the Virginia Kidd Agency, Inc.

“The Power,” copyright © 1945, 1973 by the Heirs of the Literary Estate of Will F. Jenkins; first appeared in Astounding; reprinted by permission of the author’s estate and the estate’s agents, the Virginia Kidd Agency, Inc.

“Early Model” by Robert Sheckley originally appeared in Galaxy, August 1956. © 1956 by Galaxy Publishing Corporation. Reprinted by permission of the Donald Maass Literary Agency for the author’s estate.

“Her Sister’s Keeper” by Sarah A. Hoyt appears here for the first time. © 2016 by Sarah A. Hoyt. Published by permission of the author.

“Plaything” by Larry Niven originally appeared in If: Worlds of Science Fiction, July 1974. © 1974 by UPD Publishing Corporation. Reprinted by permission of Spectrum Literary Agency.

“Random Sample” by Charles C. Munoz, writing as T. P. Caravan, originally appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, April 1953. © 1953 by Fantasy House, Inc. All attempts to locate the holder of rights to this story have been unsuccessful. If a holder will get in touch with Baen Books, payment will be made.

“No Love in All of Dwingeloo” by Tony Daniel, originally appeared in Asimov’s Science Fiction, November 1995 © 1995 by Dell Magazines. Reprinted by permission of the author.

“First Contact, Sort of” by Karen Haber and Carol Carr, originally appeared in The Ultimate Alien, October 1995. © 1995 Byron Preiss Visual Publications. Reprinted by permission of the authors.

“Fortitude” by David Brin originally appeared in Science Fiction Age, January 1996. © 1996 by Sovereign Media Co. Reprinted by permission of the author.

“They’re Made Out of Meat” by Terry Bisson originally appeared in Omni, April 1991, © 1991 by Omni Publications International, Ltd. Reprinted by permission of Trident Media Group, LLC.

“Alien Stones,” copyright © 1972, 2000 by Gene Wolfe; first appeared in Orbit 11; reprinted by permission of the author and the author’s agents, the Virginia Kidd Agency, Inc.

“Pictures Don’t Lie,” copyright © 1951, 1979 by Katherine MacLean; first appeared in Galaxy;

reprinted by permission of the author and the author’s agents, the Virginia Kidd Agency, Inc.

“Backwardness” by Poul Anderson originally appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, March 1958. © 1958 by Mercury Press, Inc. Reprinted by permission of the Lotts Agency for the Tregonier Trust.

“Dodger Fan” by Will Stanton originally appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, June 1957. © Fantasy House, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Linda Stanton French for the author’s estate.

“No Shoulder to Cry On” by Hank Davis originally appeared in Analog, June 1968. © 1968 by Condé Nast Publications, Inc. Revised version © 2016 by Hank Davis. Reprinted by permission of the author.

“Hornets’ Nest” by Lloyd Biggle, Jr. originally appeared in If: Worlds of Science Fiction, September 1959. © 1959 Digest Productions Incorporated. Reprinted by permission of Owlswick Literary Agency for the author’s estate.

“Protected Species” by H. B. Fyfe originally appeared in Astounding Science-Fiction, March 1951. © 1951 by Street and Smith Publications.. All attempts to locate the holder of rights to this story have been unsuccessful. If a holder will get in touch with Baen Books, payment will be made.

“The Cage” by A. Bertram Chandler originally appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, June 1957. © Fantasy House, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Jabberwocky Literary Agency for the author’s estate.