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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 esta...
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 esta...
364 pages, Paperback
First published January 5, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 5, 2025
Been picking away at this one for months; haven't read it all because I was jumping around.
Sci-fi is a tricky genre — sometimes stories don't age well. Many of these stories are humorous takes on "alien" encounters, and humour too is often based on contemporary context.
That said, there is a mix of stories here, some you will like and some you may skip.
Although published in 2016, many of these stories (and authors) harken back to much earlier decades (perhaps even the 1940s).
To be fair, it is a rare anthology that is not "hit-and-miss".
Sci-fi is a tricky genre — sometimes stories don't age well. Many of these stories are humorous takes on "alien" encounters, and humour too is often based on contemporary context.
That said, there is a mix of stories here, some you will like and some you may skip.
Although published in 2016, many of these stories (and authors) harken back to much earlier decades (perhaps even the 1940s).
To be fair, it is a rare anthology that is not "hit-and-miss".
January 9, 2016
"First Contact, Sort of", "Fortitude", and "they're made out of meat" I quite enjoyed, and "Pictures dont lie" and "no shoulder to cry on" were cleverly ended. Overall, this was actually a pretty varied selection of works, with some golden SF gems thrown in.
May 7, 2021
Anthology of older, mostly lighthearted stories about first contact with an alien race.
I enjoyed the stories from authors like Clifford D. Simak and Robert Sheckley that I was reading in middle school and high school.
I enjoyed the stories from authors like Clifford D. Simak and Robert Sheckley that I was reading in middle school and high school.
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July 21, 2024Anthology / collection of 21 stories, 1945 to 2016. A few big names (Larry Niven, Gene Wolfe, David Brin, Poul Anderson, Clifford D. Simak). I made a detailed list with ranking and date read for each story.
September 6, 2016
A great collection of "first contact" stories gone bad. Some are funny; some make you think. All in all, a very, very good collection of stories that I can easily recommend.
March 23, 2016
A nice collection, some weren't my style, and so I did not enjoy this collection as well as I expected to, but my preferences don't speak for everyone, and all of these stories were well put together stories, even if they failed to interest me. If you like alien contact stories, then don't miss this collection, there's something here for everyone.
May 16, 2016
Very entertaining. A good mix of stories, and not one that I skipped. Well done.
August 26, 2016
Mixed bunch of stories, more good than bad. I found some new (to me) authors, which is always a good thing. Didn't like the last story in the book, so not as positive as I might have been.
April 24, 2018
Worst Contact is a book of short stories all centered around meeting alien beings and the events going wrong for at least one of the parties. It's a pretty fun collection with some clever twists and turns. Some of the stories are better than others, but the good ones are quite clever. As could be expected with older science fiction stories, they are predominantly focused on men and several include especially blatant misogyny. I can appreciate and enjoy it for what it is and would recommend it for someone looking into older science fiction.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews