
Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Hero archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Synopsis
Karl Meier is a private in the German Army. He's been sent to occupied Greece on a secret mission in late 1944 as the Wehrmacht is withdrawing from the country. Karl has been assigned to support Professor Johannes Schmidt in the excavation of the ruins at Delphi, searching for a wunderwaffe— a wonder weapon that could help Germany win the Second World War. Deep within a cave, he finds a golden orb. On touching it, Karl connects with an alien intelligence that has sat dormant on Earth for thousands of years—the Oracle. “ The German soldier has not learned to retreat. He stands, and when necessary, he dies where he stands .” — Adolf Hitler. FIRST CONTACT is a series of stand-alone novels that explore humanity's first interaction with extraterrestrial life. This series is similar to BLACK MIRROR or THE TWILIGHT ZONE in that it is based on a common theme rather than common characters. This allows these books to be read in any order. Technically, they're all first as they all deal with how we might initially respond to contact with aliens, exploring the social, political, religious, and scientific aspects of First Contact.
Tags
The Oracle (First Contact): content & age rating
Intended for adult readers (18+).
This WWII-era first contact novel features a German soldier sent to excavate ancient ruins for a secret weapon who encounters an alien intelligence. Contains wartime violence, Nazi ideology context, and morally complex protagonist in a military setting.
What to know going in
This book has strong violence, no sexual content, and moderate language. Content notes include death, war, and violence (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Adult sci-fi fans will appreciate the unique blend of WWII history and alien contact with philosophical depth.