Do you prefer your SF with aliens or without?

[DingoelGringo]

@Absinthe_Anecdote

Thanks, I’ll check them both out.

I had some fun with the aliens examining earth’s culture for an assignment for a literature class recently.

It’s a pretty cool concept because you can go so many ways with it, from the aliens getting things horribly wrong, but still coming up with profound insight about humanity.

We did a short story about aliens deciding that humans paid parking meters as a offering to their god(s).

[eburacum45]

The TV series Red Dwarf is set in a big universe with no sign of any aliens, and is all the better for it.

I am deeply allergic to humanoid aliens, unless they are artificial constructs used to make contact with humanity; one example of this is the story Farewell to the Master that was adapted as The Day The Earth Stood Still. A fictional universe where the aliens are completely different to humanity is difficult to do, but some writers have got close; the Brothers in Anvil of Stars by Greg Bear are pretty weird, although in the book Bear says they are halfway along an arbitrary difference scale, if I recall correctly.

[Chronos]

Another example, I think, of aliens specifically engineered to make contact with humanity is the Na’vi from Avatar. Eywa is the actual intelligence of the planet, and she picked up on humans from our radio broadcasts, and made the Na’vi to meet us.

At least, I think that’s the simplest explanation. We’ll probably find out in the sequel.

[Elendil_s_Heir]

Some other nifty stories with aliens:

“The Moon Moth” and “The Kokod Warriors,” both short stories by Jack Vance
Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke
Have Space Suit Will Travel by Robert A. Heinlein
Camouflage by Joe Haldeman

[eburacum45]

@Chronos

Another example, I think, of aliens specifically engineered to make contact with humanity is the Na’vi from Avatar. Eywa is the actual intelligence of the planet, and she picked up on humans from our radio broadcasts, and made the Na’vi to meet us.

At least, I think that’s the simplest explanation. We’ll probably find out in the sequel.

I would expect the Na’vi to resemble Lucille Ball, in that case (ulp!)

[silenus]

@Elendil_s_Heir

Yeah, me, too. I’ve read great sf with aliens, and I’ve read great sf without. I don’t particularly care one way or another. Good writing is good writing.

My favorite sf with aliens:

Tuf Voyaging by George R.R. Martin
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
Icerigger by Alan Dean Foster
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
The Mote in God’s Eye by Niven and Pournelle
Footfall, ditto
Doctor’s Orders by Diane Duane

I was going to question the first item on this list, but then I remembered “Guardians.”

The Tran are one of my favorite alien races. I’d like to see Foster re-visit Tran-Ky-Ky someday.

[epbrown01]

@silenus

I was going to question the first item on this list, but then I remembered “Guardians.”

The first story had all sorts of alien life as well, though depicted an non-sentient animals. The walking web still creeps me out.