6 Books to Read If You Need More Sci-Fi After 'Disclosure Day'
19 June, 2026Steven Spielberg’s latest Disclosure Day has generated a lot of buzz and mixed reactions during it’s first week of release. Critics are loving it whilst cinema-goers are much more divided. Its themes of first contact, government secrecy, humanity's place in the universe, and the profound impact of discovering that we’re not alone have always been topics of discussion and conspiracy, and ideas that science fiction has been exploring for decades.
So for the book lovers out there, we’ve picked out six novels that offer the perfect reading list- whether you loved or were underwhelmed by Disclosure Day.
The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu
Seeing recent renewed interest after Netflix adapted it for the small screen, The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin begins during China's Cultural Revolution before expanding into a vast story involving secret communications with a doomed, technologically advanced alien civilisation planning to invade Earth.
It focuses much more on the political, scientific, and philosophical consequences of first contact than a lot of its genre-buddies and goes further than presenting aliens as simple invaders. It's packed with big ideas that blend real-world astrophysics with high-concept, speculative science-fiction.
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
This novel offers a fascinating look at communication, civilisation, and what intelligence really means as humanity struggles to survive among the stars. When a failed experiment gives rise to an entirely new intelligent species, they start to evolve in unexpected ways.
What stands out is Tchaikovsky's ability to make readers empathise with a completely non-human perspective, creating a story that feels both otherworldly and surprisingly human.
Contact by Carl Sagan
When it comes to stories about humanity receiving proof that we aren’t alone, Contact by renowned astronomer Carl Sagan is one of the most influential of all time. It follows a scientist after a mysterious signal is detected from deep space, setting off a global debate that extends far beyond the scientific community.
It’s part scientific mystery and part philosophical exploration. Sagan examines how governments, religions, media organisations, and ordinary people might respond to such a discovery, making it one of the closest literary companions to the themes at the heart of Disclosure Day.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
A multi-award winner that was recently adapted for the screen with Ryan Gosling in the lead, Andy Weir's bestselling novel combines hard science with humour, adventure, and one of the most memorable first-contact stories in modern science fiction. The story follows a lone astronaut who wakes up aboard a spacecraft with no memory of who he is or why he's there.
It’s a fascinating journey of putting together those pieces as the mystery unfolds. Readers are treated to a thrilling tale of cooperation between species and the communicative challenges that brings. Whilst it has plenty of scientific detail, the story’s warmth and optimism make it an incredibly accessible entry point for readers looking to explore big sci-fi ideas.
The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
One part of alien contact that doesn’t seem to get enough exploration is the spiritual and ethical questions raised by it. The Sparrow offers a unique perspective of a Jesuit mission sent to investigate a distant alien civilisation.
Rather than focusing on technology or warfare, Russell explores faith, culture, misunderstanding, and the unintended consequences of human curiosity. The Sparrow is an emotionally powerful novel that asks difficult questions about humanity's assumptions and our readiness to encounter the unknown.
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Not all first-contact stories have that signature Spielberg hopefulness, and Blindsight by Peter Watts proves just how unsettling an encounter with truly alien intelligence could be. When strange signals are detected on the edge of the solar system, a specially selected crew is sent to investigate, only to be challenged on humanity's most fundamental understandings about consciousness and intelligence.
Blindsight’s willingness to ask difficult questions is what makes it so memorable- combining hard science with deeply philosophical ideas. If The Sparrow leaves you pondering whether humanity is really prepared to meet something beyond our understanding, Blindsight further explores that.
Whilst Disclosure Day taps into one of humanity's oldest questions of what happens if we discover we're not alone, these six novels each approach that question from a different angle, whether through science, philosophy, faith, politics, or pure wonder. If you're eager to further explore the possibilities of extra-terrestrial discovery, any of these books will take you on a journey far beyond our own world.
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