Written by Liu Cixin
Written in 2008, it's for me, the most cult SF novel among recent works. It combines hard science fiction with deep philosophical questions, exploring the consequences of first contact with an alien civilization.
If you don't like books (be careful you can be ejected of the team because of that), it has been adapted into a series on Netflix.
This novel is the first in a trilogy, so if you enjoy it, you’ll have two more books to look forward to as part of this captivating saga.