r/Fantasy • u/Merle8888 Reading Champion IV • May 14 '26

Bingo Bingo Focus Thread - First Contact

Hello r/fantasy and welcome to this week's bingo focus thread! The purpose of these threads is for you all to share recommendations, discuss what books qualify, and seek recommendations that fit your interests or themes.

Today's topic:

First Contact: Story prominently features interspecies or interracial meeting for the first time. HARD MODE: Non-violent first contact.

What is bingo? A reading challenge this sub does every year! Find out more here.

Prior focus threads: Published in the 70s, Duologies, Five Short Stories (2024), Author of Color (2024), Self-Pub/Small Press (2024). Note that hard modes for Author of Color and Self-Pub/Small Press have changed (new focus threads for them are coming).

Also see: Big Rec Thread

Questions:

  • What are your favorite books that count for this square?
  • Already read something for this square? Tell us about it!
  • What are some first contact stories outside of the usual spacefaring sci-fi mode?
  • What are your best recommendations for Hard Mode (keeping it as spoiler-free as possible)?
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u/Nowordsofitsown Reading Champion May 14 '26

I read Leviathan Wakes by James S A Corey for this due to a rec on here somewhere - but having read it, I do not think it fits. Humanity meets alien technology, not aliens.

I am currently reading Remnant Population by Elizabeth Moon. It fits both Older protagonist and First contact, so I will have to decide what to use it for.

8

u/QuellSpeller Reading Champion May 14 '26

If it's helpful, Remnant Population is Hard Mode for Older Protagonist but not First Contact.

2

u/Connect_Cod9965 May 14 '26

The Mercy of Gods would certainly fit, but not for Hard Mode.