Roswell: First Contact
First Contact • Clean Sci-Fi • 1947 Roswell
In 1947, aliens didn’t invade, they asked for help.
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and mild wartime tension.
When Private Malcolm Dow is sent to investigate a “weather balloon” crash near Roswell, he finds something far stranger—peaceful aliens begging Earth for protection. The Zalmen are refugees, not enemies. But with Cold War fear rising, secrecy might be the only way to save both their worlds.
This thoughtful, character-driven novella blends historical fiction, first contact sci-fi, and social themes, introducing a universe where diplomacy matters more than firepower.
- Perfect for fans of Arrival, Ender’s Game, and clean, diverse science fiction.
- Start the Earth’s Secret Alliance series here—for readers age 13 and up.
(Part 1 of From Roswell to Area 51 — each story also stands alone in the Earth’s Secret Alliance universe.)
About the Book
Genres & tags
First Contact • Alternate History • Historical Sci-Fi • Clean Sci-Fi • Hopepunk • Military-adjacent (non-grim)
Ideal for
13+ readers who enjoy smart, hopeful sci-fi; teachers & librarians seeking high-interest, low-barrier entry points.
Reading Paths
Start with the Novel
From Roswell to Area 51 expands the early episodes (including this one) and threads Charlie’s retrospective narration.
Or read by Episode
- Roswell: First Contact — Malcolm Dow: Ep. 1
- Negotiations — Ryan Wilcox: Ep. 1
- The Good, The Bad, and the Undecided — Greg Newman: Ep. 1
- Defying Gravity — Mary Goss: Ep. 1
- Charlie’s Big Chance — Charlotte “Charlie” Baker
- The Woundless War — General Frank Jones
Each stands alone; reading order adds depth.
Length: 12k words
Formats: eBook • Paperback • Audiobook (planned)
ISBNs: 978-1-0688457-5-8 • 978-1-0688457-8-9
Reviews & Reader Notes
- “I can’t wait to read the rest of this series. It has definitely got me excited by the story so far.”
- “The storyline is interesting. Characters are unique. I am looking forward to reading more by this author. I highly recommend this author/book.”
- “This SF novella by Tony B. Richards takes as its starting point the idea that alien occupants of a crashed spacecraft were recovered at Roswell, NM in the 1940s. The author then proceeds to craft a tale of contact between Private Malcolm Dow and a race of pacifist aliens who need the help of Earth to defend themselves against other alien agressors.”
Look Inside
Chapter One – The Crash
Captain Agugua
HIGH ABOVE NEW MEXICO
July 7, 1947“Status report,” the blue-skinned captain said in the Zalma language.
“Approaching the Earth’s atmosphere now, Captain,” the much younger female engineer said in English. She and the rest of the crew had been practicing their English for about six months.
The captain listened to the translation through his earpiece and nodded, turning his eyes back to the screen. He slid his long blue fingers forward across the floating panel in front of him, then looked over at the engineer. “Keep it steady,” he ordered. “I am bringing it down.”
The engineer nodded and swiveled her chair to the far side of her desk. Her fingers moved with ease across the touchscreen. A small light glitched on a monitor to the left, unnoticed. “Ready, Captain.”
The captain nodded again, and the spacecraft dipped, barely nudging the invisible ozone layer around the vibrant blue and green planet below. Everything was proceeding as planned—until it didn’t.
Suddenly, alarms wailed. Red lights flashed. The captain’s skin turned bluish-green and his body seized. “Computer, give me virtual controls.” He held his palms out flat, and his sleeves extended over his hands like gloves. Bringing his hands up, the captain began maneuvering the ship with precise twitches of his fingers. The turbulence rumbled through him. Glasses appeared over his eyes, and he pulled up the ship’s status. Numbers flew across his vision. He gasped, and his skin flashed white like the depths of a dying star.
“The ship is losing power!” the engineer called from her desk. “The engine is down!” She touched the illuminated metal. “Thrusters…deflectors…everything is failing!”
“And the hull?” the captain asked.“The hull is holding, sir,” she replied. “Should we deploy the parachute?”
“Not yet.” The captain kept his hands steady. He waited for his moment. The limited thrusters stuttered and choked on their last few breaths of life, sending the ship shaking and trembling, but he held firm. “Not yet….”
The spacecraft blazed as it plummeted. Flames licked up around the sides, and clouds of smoke formed at its tail.
“Now?”
“Not yet!”
The ambassador’s trembling fingers gripped the edges of his seat. He gulped. “Captain, I think it would be wise to deploy the parachute now.”
“The ship is still blazing. The parachute will fail. It will crash.”
“It will crash anyway,” the engineer pointed out. She shook her head. “Deploying parachute in three, two….”
The captain brought his hands back sharply and spread his fingers. “Now!” he cried.
The parachute deployed with a snap and the ship lurched. Its speed cut in half, the fires died slightly, and it drifted down. They let out sighs of relief.
“Is it safe?” With the gloves and glasses gone, the captain inspected the monitor in front of him. Every readout glowed green. All except one. “What is wrong with this?” he asked, pointing to the screen. There was a shriek as the parachute tore apart. The spacecraft dropped like a stone, and the Earth rushed up to meet it.
For Educators & Parents
High-interest, classroom-friendly. Discussion prompts available in the Classroom Guide. Themes: courage, conscience, bystander intervention, diplomacy vs. fear, bias & first impressions.