Charles Stross's "MAXO Signals": Interstellar spammers!

This very readable & very short first-contact-with-aliens story takes a track I haven't seen in fiction before.

Full text of this story is available online.

Story summary.
MAXO is short for "microwave artifact of xenobiological origin" - a kind of radio signals received on earth where the signals are of alien origin.

Story doesn't specify the year it happens. At the time of narration, at least 21 MAXO signals have been received - all from nearby star systems. Many talented individuals have spent a lot of time decoding them.

Decoding turns out to be simpler than expected. And out pops a very familiar message!

Beautiful.

Fact sheet.
MAXO Signals, short story, review
First published: Nature magazine, 25 August 2005
Rating: A