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story identification - Humanity meeting another similar intelligent life form deep into space (or not)?



I'm looking for a plot line (it should be a short story) that depicts Earth population (or their close descendants) establishing contact with another intelligent life form deep into space.


After careful studying of DNA samples and language / communication symbols they then realize that the civilization in question is also from Earth but that they departed very long ago and travelled throughout the galaxy in the completely opposite direction so that they are now meeting practically at the point of the circle opposite to Earth. There might have been some anatomical differences as well.


As far as I can remember, the story concludes shortly after that.


This should be a work of a well-known SF author, so I'm hoping for a quick response (if time didn't corrupt my memory too much).


I don't think it was part of an anthology, but it's entirely possible it was in a magazine.


As for the timeline, I've read it about 2-3 years ago, but since I have a passion for older SF works it might not be of much use.


Edit: Not sure if this could help but for what it's worth, it might be contained in this list.



Answer



That's "Final Encounter" by Harry Harrison. I have a copy in Galactic Empires Vol.2 edited by Brian Aldiss, but it's been collected elsewhere as well.


(I remembered having read it, but had no idea where, so I Googled on "ring species" galaxy, which turned up a relevant discussion.)



(If they were a long way from home but not actually on the far side of the galaxy, then it might instead be "Starfog" by Poul Anderson. But I think "Final Encounter" is the likelier one.)


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