Jumpnauts

Hugo winner Hao (Vagabonds) impresses with this sci-fi thriller series kickoff set in 2080. Archaeologist Yun Fan has devoted her career to proving that the Mayan and Egyptian pyramids and other historical feats are evidence of benign extraterrestrial intervention in human affairs. Her study of major inflection points in Chinese history has led her to conclude that aliens visit Earth every 800 years or so, causing a “sudden burst of innovation and advancement, pushing civilization into a new age.” If that pattern holds, another such visit is imminent, and Yun has been analyzing signals from space that could indicate attempts at communication. Those signals attract the attention of military leaders in the Pacific League of Nations, which rules the planet alongside the Atlantic Alliance. After the Pacific League learns that Yun has made likely alien contact, and that all evidence indicates the aliens are peaceful, several of their scientists attempt to communicate with the life-forms before word gets to the more reactive Atlantic Alliance, who could unwittingly send Earth into interplanetary conflict. Hao’s patient worldbuilding and character-driven approach lends fresh life to the familiar first contact trope. Contact fans will be thrilled. Agent: Katelyn Hales, Robin Straus Agency. (Mar.)