First Contact-Or, It's Later Than You Think

by Evan Mandery

In the bestselling and rightfully cult-inspiring tradition of Kurt Vonnegut and Douglas Adams comes First Contact—an hysterically funny satire about Presidential politics and intergalactic misunderstanding. This smart and biting novel by Evan Mandery—an author equally well-versed in the lives of the U.S. presidents, existential philosophy, and the Simpsons—offers much food for intellectual thought along with an all-you-can-eat buffet of laughs, as it chronicles the first close encounters between earthlings and a vastly superior extraterrestrial race from Rigel-Rigel. As the subtitle of First Contact so presciently informs us, “It’s Later than You Think.”

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Humor, Satire, Aliens, Politics, Novels

267 pages, Paperback

First published January 8, 2010

About the author

Evan Mandery is the author of eight books, including four novels, as well as the co-creator and executive producer of the TV series Artificial, for which he won Peabody and Emmy awards in 2019. A leading expert on the death penalty, Evan’s book, A Wild Justice: The Death and Resurrection of Capital Punishment in America, was a New York Times Editors’ Pick, a Kirkus best book of the year, and an ABA Silver Gavel honorable mention. A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, Evan has been an outspoken critic of legacy admissions since publishing an op-ed in The New York Times in 2014. His new book Poison Ivy: How Elite Colleges Divide Us offers a devastating critique of how elite colleges and suburbs work together to exacerbate social inequality. Evan is also a regular contributor to Politico. He lives in Montclair, New Jersey with his wife, Valli Rajah-Mandery, a sociologist. They have three children.

Reviews

[Michael Ferro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious, intelligent, and wildly thought-provoking, FIRST CONTACT is a classic of our modern times, and much more timely than perhaps even it knew it was back when it was released in 2010. Like the harbinger of a coming orange doom with tiny hands and bad hair, this book so perfectly satirized our delicate democracy in the 21st century with razor sharp wit, insight, and self-awareness.

If there was a time to read Evan Mandery's novel, it's now. We may have missed his important message when it first came around, but it's never too late. Or, perhaps as the book itself warns, it's later than we think...

[Chris · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't finish this one. Made it about 40 pages in and got fed up. The characters are all buffoons (and not likable buffoons), the omniscient narrator keeps breaking in with useless data in a way that tries far too hard to be like Vonnegut or Douglas Adams, but just comes across as glib and smarmy. I really wanted to like the premise, but sadly, it just doesn't deliver. Read Scalzi's "Agent to the Stars" instead of this one, it's a vastly better work.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some books just do it for you, and for me, this was one of them. First Contact is like if Douglas Adams and Kurt Vonnegut wrote a book together and Woody Allen decided to direct the movie based on the book and added some of his own insights and thoughts. High praise I know, but once you start reading First Contact you begin to realize where the author has decided to take his story.

This is sci-fi in the way most of Vonnegut's work is considered sci-fi, which means "not really." Sure there are aliens, faster than light travel, odd names and different worlds, but this being a satire, everything is more or less based in reality, with nothing ever feeling really alien, a story that's more like an existential based reality, if that makes any sense, which of course, it doesn't.

Not everything works here, which is why I gave the book 4/5 stars. Some of the parts drag and become somewhat of a bore, like the author decided to really drag on, really hammer in ideas close to the point where my mind began to wander and almost want to skim (which is never a good thing). Also, there were some parts that seemed thrown in because the author thought it would be odd and funny, but perhaps the ideas worked better in his mind then on paper (I'm looking at you constant underwear references!!)

Still, overall it was like this book was written for me. Douglas Adams is my "genre" idol. Kurt Vonnegut is my "literary" idol. And Woody Allen is my "film" idol. Each artist shaped me from childhood, shaped the way I read, watch and see things, and left impressions on my so strong that I still carry them into adulthood. These 3 are like my biggest icons, so yeah, if you're like me and enjoy those three men (that sounded really wrong), then I think you'll really like this book. Even if you don't like all 3, I still think you should give the novel a chance. You'll know within the first 30 pages if this books for you. If not, no harm done. But for me, this was like a walk through my interests and passions, and I know how cool that sounds because that's how I roll, which is sadly, not very far.

[jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this frenetic farce, which plainly owes much to Kurt Vonnegut and Douglass Adams, //First Contact// offers a unique premise. Aliens from Rigel-Rigel arrive on earth for brunch with the President. They are enlightened, laid back lovers of Woody Allen and Bundt cake, who wish to share their knowledge. One problem – they are greeted by a President who is a shallow, science doubting, underwear-obsessed idiot, who assumes – partially on the basis of it being brunch – that the aliens must be Jewish.

““Well, I never heard that word [brunch:] when I was a kid. We had breakfast, and then we had lunch like the good lord intended… I’ll say now the same thing I said then: Don’t understand it, ain’t gonna eat it.” The association of brunch with the Jews is yet another counter historical, anti-Semitic defamation, like Jews’ responsibility for the death of Jesus, with the notable difference that everyone likes brunch…”

Ralph Bailey, the President’s attaché whose portfolio had consisted of fetching his boss’s preferred lunch sandwich (“extra meat”) from Blimpway and catering to the previously mentioned underwear issues, serves as liaison with the aliens. At the same time, he has found sudden happiness with his new girlfriend, Jessica Love.

Mandery leaps about the galaxy, finding ways to celebrate topics, like Sting, the Simpsons, and Dr Pepper, even as he mocks censorship, political spin, government waste, insurance fraud, the fourth wall, law professors, and the galactic scourge known as the PTA (don’t ask). At times the trip can be a bit dizzying, almost breathless, with even the author walking on and off the page, but the laughs never stop rolling. For fans of Douglas Adams and Christopher Moore, //First Contact// will leave you in stitches. Get it before the universe ends and makes reading it a lot trickier.

[Xanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sorry to say that I was very disappointed with this book. Evan Mandery's novel "Q" is my all time favourite book so maybe my expectations were a little too high, but I hardly managed to finish this one as I'd just completely lost interest in the story at the end. The only reason I managed to muddle through the last chapter was because I don't like leaving books unfinished; if I do that, every time I see the book I feel like I should finish it, even if I stopped reading it years ago. I really feel like this is the book Mandery had to write before he could create the masterpiece that Q is, so I'm kind of happy it exists, but I also felt like everything I loved about Mandery's writing in Q was present in this book except in a conpletely wrong way. The humor, the breaking of the fourth wall, the absurdity, it was all there, except there was way too MUCH of it. At one point in this book he goes completely meta and what at first is intriguing becomes very annoying after two pages. At that point the book completely lost my interest and unfortunately didn't regain it. I was totally prepared to love this book but I just really couldn't. Also, the message of the book is a little too obvious. I mean, the message in Q isn't all that subtle either, but at least it's a bit more elegantly woven through the story. I felt like in a way Mandery made it a little too easy for himself sometimes, by letting a character analyse the book so that the reader wouldnt have to etc. It was clever, but still lazy. So, yeah, it's a funny read and certainly not a terrible book, but if you loved Q like I did and want to read this book to get more of that, be prepared to be a little disappointed.

[Trin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's like Vonnegut, but without the occasionally creepy treatment of women and minorities! This was seriously fun. There are alien con men and a president obsessed with his underpants and a cheerful bludgeoning of the fourth wall. It’s clever and funny and sort of slyly about stuff. Now I only wish it were an easier sell. I managed to briefly get it onto the bestseller list at our store, though at the very bottom, and this only through very nearly physically forcing it into customers’ hands. I generally have a hard time selling anything if, in describing the plot, I have to use the word “aliens.” (The Sparrow was a non-starter for me, too, although I did try.) “Time travel” also doesn’t get me very far, and I doubt “amnesia” or “apocalyptic shenanigans” would do terribly well either. All the things I love, and my customers turn up their noses! Oh, watch me shake my head and sigh.

This is honestly very good, though. You should read it even if they won’t.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like to read before bed, and I go through a lot of books. What's rare is that I turn to my spouse to say, "this book is really good!" That's what happened with First Contact. Evan Mandery has created a fun read that still gives you food for thought and makes you feel a connection with the characters while never taking itself too seriously.

The author goes off on tangents that wouldn't work anywhere near as well if tried by a less skilled author. Instead, in this book, they add to the lighthearted fun inherent in the story. Matters of the gravest concern are at stake in First Contact, and still it's an uplifting novel.

From a president who is a composite of what some of us may have feared certain holders of that office have truly been (this one having a particular obsession with finding the right underwear) to his long-suffering aide, to raccoons and aliens from a far away world, this isn't your run-of-the-mill novel, but that's a very good thing.

Never losing its pace or its sense of humor, you won't want to put it down!

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book on the librarians recommended table at the central branch of my my local library system. I have picked many books from this selection and have most often found nothing to my liking, not to say there are not probably many good books to choose from, just i am not as open minded about literature genres as maybe i'd like to be. So giving five stars and even writing a review of a book i found this way is a first.

This book had me laughing out loud a few times, giggling some more, thinking about larger idea often, and pulled a little tear at the end. The author is a mix of kurt voniget, tom robbins, and Chris Moore. I might add some others in there, but these are the first that come to mind.

The prose was a bit hard to keep attenuated to, but that was probably me more then anything. The author has an interesting way of switching perspectives that i would normally not enjoy but seemed to work this time. The chapter lengths were perfect and the characters were great. The story itself was tons of fun with lots of little twist and little inside jokes between for the reader to enjoy with the writer.

I really did keep coming back to it and my only wish is i could have read it in a time where i could have paid closer attention to what i was reading, it will be worth a re-read if i can find the time and manage to remember. I would love to own my own copy just so that when that time comes i can just pull it off the shelf, oh well!

[Patty Blount · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was fortunate to have met Evan at Sean Ferrell’s book reading a few weeks ago where he signed a copy of First Contact for me. On the long train ride home, I began reading it aloud to my son. The train was extremely crowded and a few paragraphs in, I realized the crowd had quieted somewhat to listen to me read. The first chapter opens with a presidential aide trying to inform the President that aliens have made contact. The President, however, is having underwear issues. The passengers on the train assumed I was reading about former President Bush (snork). Evan’s story meanders through the lives of many characters, not all of them Earthlings but every scene, every joke – even the ones that broke the fourth wall – is connected with such brilliance, I couldn’t decide to laugh or gasp. Buy it. Read it.

[eclectic-reader Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I decided to buy a few books off a Huffington Post Summer Reading list. I just finished one of their picks: First Contact: Or, It’s Later Than You Think, by Evan Mandery. I absolutely loved this book. The novel is a witty, engaging, face-paced read. I initially picked the book because I’m a fan of Kurt Vonnegut. First Contact incorporates first-person narration where Mandery enters the novel as a commentator. The author's insightful and humorous observations had me laughing out loud. But under all the fun and wackiness, the book still manages to address weighty topics including the end of the world and love. You should read this book. You’ll be glad you did.

[MB (What she read) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was enjoying this a lot in the beginning, as it was reminding me of Christopher Buckley's style, (in particular Little Green Men), but about half way through I got bored and irritated with the author's self-insertion. (It was funny at first, but got old fast and the plot kind of mostly stopped short.) I haven't read Vonnegut nor am I a Woody Allen fan, so probably my lack of appreciation was my own fault. Humor is subjective and this got me at first but then lost me.

[Len Vlahos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed out loud a lot while reading this... If you liked Hitchhiker's Guide, you'll like this, too.

[Brendan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Evan Mandery has created a concept that sounds amazing, but struggles with the overall storyline. The political satire was the intriguing parts of the novel and the rest fell into a little too convenient pile. I honestly felt this would work so much better as a film, the visual aids and humour would be a better suit. This was my first introduction to Evan Mandery and I must say, he is a gifted storyteller and almost gets away with a the fourth wall.

The social satire was the best part of this book and what I liked about the novel was its lack of convention. Mandery goes for everything, but the kitchen sink and if I was him, the kitchen would have been worth throwing in as well. The only real problem I had was the characters depth and interest for them being in the book at all. I made mention of this being a fun film, the visual aids would assist the lack of character creation and maintain the humour of the book. The President is hilarous and one of the best characters of the book, I only wish the author focused the entire book in The White House.

Why the 3.5?

The book works for the better half and it's only the Aliens that lack any true substance. I really wanted a book on the same level with Dr Strangelove, the genre deserves some quirky satire political humour. Mandery tries a lot in this short novel, but it doesn't come together like it should. I had been tossing around the possibilities of a 4 star rating, but ultimately I fell on the 3.5 due to some of the bigger issues I had with the book. I like my reviews short and punchy, so my central comment is that the book was inconsistent and struggled with the concept to the page. I wanted more and I felt the supporting characters distracted us from the fun that was being explored elsewhere. I will read another Mandery book so that should say this is not without merit.

[Amill · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF
I was ignoring the constant, tedious interruptions of the author in the book and forcing myself to finish it until we reached "the Mediterranean island nation of Balta". WTF?! Either the author is making up a country or he doesn't knows basic geography.
It might also be an editing mistake but I'm done.

[Tai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deducted 1 star because the author thinks cats r evil:/ but otherwise a fun read

[George Stankow · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's not often that I put down a book in the middle, never to return to it. There are books that I lose interest in, sure, but very, very rarely will I consciously step away from a book. Even less so when it is the only book I have available on an hour-plus-long car trip and the alternative is staring out the window on a fairly boring stretch of I-96 through Michigan. I suspect that you have guessed that this book is in that category. If not, then you may well enjoy this book. I could not, largely because of the relentless repetition, telegraphing and hammering into the ground of every joke and plot point. Imagine going to a stand-up show where the comedian's dad was sitting next to you and elbowing you in the ribs after every joke, and the comedian's mom was on the other side, explaining every joke, sometimes before the punchline even arrives. That is what the author does in this book. Constantly. Oh, and imagine that only about half of the jokes were funny the first time. (Naming aliens after secondary Simpsons characters? Really?) When, halfway through, two new characters are brought in for the sole purpose of breaking the fourth wall and discussing how dumb it is to break the fourth wall, and then discuss how dumb it is to discuss how dumb it is to break the fourth wall, it was my last straw. I cannot recommend avoiding this book enough.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Need a little thoughtful, funny, poignant, hopeful, heartbreaking, political and existential satire? Go no further. Mr. Mandery has written a book that has it all: a practical joke involving rabbinical haberdashery; interstellar physics; an occasional digression on famous Gordons; an homage to Vonnegut; tips of the hat to Python & Adams; a little love story; and the most disturbingly true sentence about PTAs that I've ever read. If you've already plowed through Vonnegut, Adams, Wallace, and Pratchett, I can't recommend this enough. And if you haven't read those big guns, First Contact is still a great place to start.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Contact is a side splittingly funny novel that screams to be made into a movie. I can see SNL comedians and “A-list” actors clamoring for roles. One of the funniest moments in the book is when the bumbling President (who can not find comfortable underwear) tries on a pair of his young attaché’s , Ralph, jockey shorts that Ralph unwittingly left in the oval office after a tryst with his girlfriend. The president is so pleased with the fit that he appoints Ralph 949th in succession to the presidency.

There is scene after scene of hilarious events. Mandery has brilliantly created a wickedly wacky, hilariously funny and thought-provoking novel that you cannot put down.

[Valli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vonnegut lovers will celebrate!!

I picked up First Contact because the author, Evan Mandery, billed the work as a conscious homage to Kurt Vonnegut. As a Vonnegut devotee, I was skeptical, but Evan Mandery really delivers. Like Vonnegut, Mandery takes on weighty topics like tolerance and censorship with graceful, gentle satirical thrusts. The narrative, which is skillfully rendered, also accommodates Mandery's personal commentary on what's going on. The book is hilarious and extremely engaging. I really couldn't put it down. As someone who is sad that there will be no new works from Vonnegut, I am happy that Evan Mandery has come along.

[Wingedbeaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful, witty, hilarious novel that lives up to its billing of a mix of Vonnegut and Douglas Adams. Mandery makes no bones about styling his work after those giants of the satire genre, going as far as to mention it in the novel itself. First Contact is a well constructed satire that pokes fun of everything including itself. It had me laughing out loud! I highly recommend it to any Vonnegut fan. On the other hand, if you're a Vonnegut hater stay away. Many of the techniques that people find annoying in Vonnegut's work are present here.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, funny, touching, joyful, pure Mandery. First Contact: Or, It's Later Than You Think is a wonderful novel not only for its story, which is Woody Allen injected into STAR TREK, but for the sense of hope you get from the author. Infused with an authorial presence that is both charming and funny, the book is less about funny situations than the author's (as both "author" as a character and Author as the person who put words on the page) vision of how the world maybe ought to be. And that vision is lovely.

[Seth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny stuff. I liked it a lot. Mandery used to be a lawyer. And you can tell. But I mean that in a good way, which is to say that he seems to delight in word play and thinking about interesting issues. His actual treatment of the issues (existentialism, religion, ethics, etc.) can be a little unoriginal/unexciting but the story is light and fun. And the end of the novel was actually nicely sentimental and sweet . . . at least if you---like me---are the kind of person who gets choked up at the end of sappy movies.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading Evan Mandery’s new novel First Contact – or It’s Later Than You Think. I thoroughly enjoyed his well-crafted writing that is filled with humor and at the same had me reflecting upon what is important in life. His dialogue with the reader is totally engaging and filled with incredible references to our culture. It is a fast paced read that you will not be able to put down.

[Chris Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laugh out loud funny. Mandery writes like a mash-up of Christopher Buckley and Kurt Vonnegut, droll wit mixed with plain (but funny) insights into the human (and not so human) condition.

This book may not be for everyone, but he nailed any demographic I might belong to.

Set in the near future, it is, as stated in the title, a book about first contact between humanity and an alien entity, an unceremonial one, with a sense of humor.....hilarity ensues.

[Jennifer Seyfried · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect for fans of the Hitchhiker's Guide school of wacky space travelling science fiction. Yes, wacky space travel and aliens, as well as political satire and post-modern narrative techniques. Not for people who only like hard science fiction and serious storytelling. Not that the author doesn't make some thought-provoking observations about life, the universe and everything, but he never takes anything too seriously. Altogether a thoroughly satisfying read.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

to read my "interesting" encounter with this book/the author, check out my blog posts:

http://ealtk.blogspot.com/2010/09/par...

and

http://ealtk.blogspot.com/2010/09/upd...

[Clare · Rating 1 out of 5]

Clever, confusing, and a lot of other things. Reminded me of philosophy tutes at uni, fun and infuriating.

[Linsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious. Loved this book. Must now read the rest of his stuff.

[Mike Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Channelling Vonnegut, Mandery uses absurdism to illustrate life and to mock those who take everything so damn seriously.

[Brea Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazingly kurt vonnegut-esque sci fi book. love it.