A crew of cloned scientists, led by Dali Patel—whose memory imprint has failed—arrives at the tidally-locked exoplanet Bee to make first contact with two advanced alien species, only to become entangled in the planet’s internal conflicts and the complexities of interspecies communication. The novel explores themes of truth, deception, and the challenges of understanding across cultures, all grounded in hard science and philosophical inquiry.

Reader Review Summary

Set in the near future, the story follows the crew of the UN warship Magellan as they travel twelve light-years from Earth to the tidally-locked super-Earth known as Bee (Gliese 273b or Luyten b), responding to a signal from an intelligent alien civilization. The crew, consisting of four clones—Dali, Sandy, Helios, and Kari—are awakened upon arrival, with their memories implanted from their progenitors. However, Dali, the mission's First Contact specialist, suffers from an incomplete memory transfer, leaving him without the expertise expected for such a critical role. The narrative explores the challenges of making contact with at least two advanced alien species on Bee, the scientific and ethical dilemmas of cloning, and the difficulties of communication and trust in a high-stakes interstellar encounter. The planet's environment, including its heavy gravity and tidally-locked nature, plays a significant role in shaping both the plot and the limitations faced by both humans and aliens, with the inability to leave the planet being a central theme. The book is a tribute to the classic 'The Mote in God's Eye' and is part of a loosely connected series exploring different scenarios of first contact with extraterrestrial life.

Readers praised the book for its detailed and well-researched scientific concepts, particularly the plausible depiction of exoplanetary environments, orbital mechanics, and the process of interstellar travel via cloning and memory implantation. The descriptions of Bee and its alien species were frequently highlighted as immersive and believable, with several reviewers noting the depth of world-building and the sense of 'being there.' The philosophical and psychological discussions—especially around lying, communication, and the ethics of cloning—were seen as thought-provoking. Many appreciated the character-driven storytelling, especially Dali's growth from an incomplete clone to a key figure in the mission, and the group dynamics among the small crew. The book's pacing, especially the earlier-than-usual first contact event, and the inclusion of an afterword explaining the science, were also positively received. Comparisons were made to works like 'The Mote in God's Eye,' 'Project Hail Mary,' 'The Three-Body Problem,' and 'Children of Time,' with some readers preferring this book's approach to first contact and its integration of both hard science and humanities.

Some readers expressed dissatisfaction with the pacing, particularly the slow start and the amount of exposition and philosophical dialogue in the first half of the book, which some found to be info-dumpy or reminiscent of adolescent debates. The protagonist Dali's characterization as naive or childish was criticized by a few, who questioned the plausibility of assigning such a person to a critical mission. There were also critiques of scientific plausibility, such as the depiction of life and technology on a high-gravity planet, the survivability of certain events, and the rapid construction of complex items by the crew. A minority of reviewers found the story predictable, the writing simplistic, or the characters unlikable, and some were unconvinced by the narrative choices or the handling of first contact protocols. A few readers did not enjoy the present-tense narration or felt that the book did not stand out compared to other entries in the genre.

The book is part of Peter Cawdron's 'First Contact' series, which features standalone stories connected by the theme of humanity's initial encounters with alien life, rather than by recurring characters or settings. The series is known for its focus on the social, political, religious, and scientific ramifications of first contact, and each book can be read independently. 'Cold Eyes' incorporates real scientific events, such as the 2017 METI message sent to Luyten's Star, and includes an afterword detailing the scientific research behind the story. The narrative is available in multiple formats, including audiobook, and has received a substantial number of ratings and reviews, with an average rating of 4.42 out of 5. The book has been noted for its homage to classic science fiction and its blend of hard science with explorations of human and alien psychology and society.