The Listeners (Magill’s Guide to Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature)
At a glance:
- Author: James E. Gunn
- First Published: 1968
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Science fiction—alien civilization
- Time of Work: 2025-2118
- Setting: Arecibo, Puerto Rico
- Genres: Long fiction, Science fiction
- Subjects: Extraterrestrial life, Future, Other worlds, Twenty-first century, Radio or radio broadcasting, Puerto Rico or Puerto Ricans, Astronomy or astronomers
- Locales: Puerto Rico
The Plot
The chapters of The Listeners relate to major characters in the work, but the story titles in magazines refer to the parts of the novel’s radio message. A section titled “Computer Run” after each chapter gives scientific, literary, and philosophical ideas about alien contact and also provides the setting of the novel through short news stories.
In The Listeners, humans attempt to contact intelligent life by listening to radio emissions from outer space. In 2025, Robert McDonald, director of the Project, guides a team of scientists who scan...
[The entire page is 999 words long]
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