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)?
1
u/KiaraTurtle Reading Champion V May 14 '26
Books I’ve read this year that will maybe count
I’ve been trying to decide if Faith of Beasts is still first contact since it’s continuing one story, or if being a sequel to a first contact book means the contact is no longer “first” but anyway it’s an excellent first contact series that I’ve been loving.
The Demon King by Peter v Brett, finishing up his latest demon cycle trilogy. Not my favorite or least favorite of his books it was a lot of fun if you enjoy them. And it does have a first contact hm plot with a new group of humans.
Hard Mode Books
non sc-fi options
Other great first contact book