Probably the most well-known first-contact story ever, no list like this is complete without Carl Sagan's beloved Contact, and narrator Laurel Lefkow understands the scope and significance of Sagan's story. A sci-fi tale set in 1999, it follows a global team of astronauts as our intrepid, spacefaring heroes fly out to the stars beyond our solar system for the first time. But the shocking discovery they find will change things forever.

The government agent is known only as Signalman. He's been sent to Arizona to meet with a woman to discuss an event that happened with a cult not far away in California. The event haunts Signalman, and there's so much more going on that he doesn't understand. And worse yet, the future-minded cult may have been onto something, because as NASA's interplanetary probe goes dark, something beyond Pluto's orbit makes contact. This slow-burn thriller is haunting, and the dual narration of Danny Campbell and Chelsea Stephens only further amps up the suspense.

Stefan Rudnicki knocks it out of the park narrating this classic first-contact novel from the great Samuel R. Delaney. The tale focuses on a poet tasked with translating the enemy's language to uncover their plans. To do that, she has to travel with a motley crew to the site of the next attack. As the truth behind the enemy reveals itself, their mission turns perilous and the future humanity hangs in the balance.

Humanity's obsession with nuclear weapons finally consumed the Earth in fire. Hundred of years later, Lilith awakens in the hold of an alien spacecraft. Julienne Irons brings her vocal talents to expertly narrate Lilith's confusion and mourning. Lilith lost her husband and son in Earth's last war, and now she might be the key to saving the rest of mankind from extinction. These aliens want to save the species, after all, and they've been waiting for the right moment to lead humanity back to Earth.

Misery Nomaki has been hearing the voice of an angel saying they're the chosen warrior for years, but they don't quite believe it. They also don't believe that the giant monster threatening their remote moon colony is real. but the "holy mech" Misery is destined to pilot might say otherwise. Are these mechs truly technological marvels? Or are aliens simply playing a part in humanity's great struggle? Narrator Livvie Lin brings intrigue and heart to Misery's wild internal life and the story's larger intergalactic landscape.

This book centers one of first-contact's most popular themes: aliens bringing people together. Adjoa Andoh and Ben Onwukwe team up to narrate this story about three vastly different people all standing on a beach in Lagos, Nigeria, when a meteorite strikes, sending a tidal wave in their direction. Except, of course, it's not a mere meteorite. How will this unexpected group—a rapper, a marine biologist, and a soldier—come together in the face of extraterrestrials?

Roen is just an IT worker when the voice in his head first appears. But that voice he's hearing? It's actually an ancient alien named Tao. They've been guiding humanity since the beginning, and Tao needs Roen to be the hero that humanity needs in a war that Roen didn't even know was happening. When it comes to voices in a character's head, you need a great narrator like Mikael Naramore to pull it off—which he does with aplomb.

Caitlin Davies and Daniel Thomas May deftly navigate the large cast of characters and voices in this great first-contact novel. When human colonists are forced to land on an alien planet, they find a reality that defies all earthly logic. Alien trees offer addictive fruit or poison depending on their moods. They find ruins that inform them that entire civilizations have risen and fallen on this planet. Soon, it seems the only way these humans will survive is if they can find a way to communicate with the planet's sentient species.

Alessandro Juliani (the actor who played Lieutenant Felix Gaeta on Battlestar Galactica) is the perfect narrator for this updated translation of Stanislaw Lem's towering sci-fi classic. When Kris Kelvin arrives at a space station orbiting a planet with a vast ocean, he settles in for some research—as the other scientists begin to lose their minds. When Kris's dead wife appears, however, he starts to ponder whether this is all in his head or the machinations of some alien entity.

A century ago, all sentient life in the universe was nearly obliterated in a war. To find peace, they agreed to a cease-fire on one condition: to meet once each cycle to compete in a giant competition. Like America's Got Talent in space—yet this competition has stakes on par with war. Now, humanity has discovered space travel and they, too, must take part in this grand competition...for their very existence. Narrator Heath Miller knows how to bring the funny in this fun, first-contact book.

Emilio Sandoz is a Jesuit priest and linguist who's given a most unusual task: to make first contact with intelligent alien life. Emilio's approach is one of hope and faith, always seeking to find the best in everyone, including aliens. But that will only work if they can properly communicate, which proves to be the greatest challenge of Emilio's life. Author Mary Doria Russell's excellent first-contact novel requires gravitas, and narrator David Colacci delivers with intelligence and grace.

Amid China's Cultural Revolution, aliens on the brink of extinction announce their intent to invade Earth. In absolute panic, humanity divides into various factions. Some are intent on fighting, some on capitulating, and some even plan to worship the extraterrestrials. As the world goes mad in anticipation, only time will tell how humanity will react when these invaders actually arrive. Narrator Luke Daniels balances the panic, logic, and world-building that runs through Cixin Liu's fan favorite translated by Ken Liu.

Becky Chambers is one of the best science fiction voices out there, and narrator Brittany Pressley perfectly executes every nuance with her deft narration. Humans have finally made a technological breakthrough that allows them to survive the hostile environments of space and other planets. As Ariadne and her crew explore a planet 15 lightyears from Earth, they find themselves changing just as much as their distant home. And how different can we become before we’re alien ourselves?

Martians are invading Earth. It begins as a smattering of unbelievable reports, slowly ramping up into the hysteria of a full-scale invasion full of horrors. These aliens aren't just attacking, they're devouring us drop by bloody drop. While you might be familiar with the gist of H.G. Wells's classic story, you're missing out on something truly spectacular until you've heard Simon Vance's masterful narration.

Soon to be a movie starring Ryan Gosling, this exceptional audiobook follows Ryland, the sole survivor of a desperate mission to save all of humanity. Alone on a spacecraft that he doesn't really understand, he soon finds help in the most unexpected of allies. Just how good is Ray Porter's narration? Spectacular enough to win the 2022 Audie for Best Audiobook and to be named Audible's best listen of 2021.