# SF: any alien races with cultural diversity? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 19, 2004, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-any-alien-races-with-cultural-diversity/255834 "2004-07-19T16:00:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-any-alien-races-with-cultural-diversity/255834/21 "2004-07-19T19:47:50Z")
Can’t get much more diverse than the [Xindi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xindi) in Enterprise. [picture of 4/5 of the Xindi Council](http://www.voyager.cz/enterprise/epizody/images/053/06.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-any-alien-races-with-cultural-diversity/255834/22 "2004-07-19T20:10:26Z")
Thanks for playing Jeff, here are your parting gifts … 🙂 Actually, what you have there is a species-diverse space federation, much like the Federation. It does not address the concept of diverse cultures within a single species. Species-diverse “bad guys” are somewhat rare, but not unheard of. The Shadows of Babylon 5 had many races working for them, as did their nemeses (and supposed good guys) the Vorlons. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-any-alien-races-with-cultural-diversity/255834/23 "2004-07-19T20:50:02Z")
Mary Doria Russell’s _The Sparrow_ and its followup _Children of God_ are pretty cool in this regard. Lots of different factions with different points of view and different aims and objectives. There’s also Robert L. Sawyer’s _Illegal Alien_, which has a group of aliens visiting Earth with, as it’s ultimately revealed, a couple of them strongly disagreeing with the reason for the visit. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-any-alien-races-with-cultural-diversity/255834/24 "2004-07-19T21:21:47Z")
> [@Ponder Stibbons](#): > > Actually, what you have there is a species-diverse space federation, much like the Federation. Depends on who you ask. The prevailing view indicates that Xindi is a race, not a federation. ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-any-alien-races-with-cultural-diversity/255834/25 "2004-07-19T21:32:22Z")
The Thalassans (and to some extent the Hetairans) in Piper and Kurland’s _First Cycle._ The lamviin in L. Neil Smith’s _Their Majesties’ Bucketeers._ ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-any-alien-races-with-cultural-diversity/255834/26 "2004-07-19T21:47:46Z")
[QUOTE=SteelerphanIt does seem to be a science fiction cliche, the one world culture. It’s assumed that mankind can’t deal with other planets without Earth being under one flag- \*Babylon 5, Star Trek, \* and many others share this unspoken creed.[/QUOTE] Not always. There was one Golden Age SF writer – I think it was Stanley G. Weinbaum – who wrote several stories set in a future in which the age of pre-WWII colonial imperialism continued in the colonization of the solar system (full of life-bearing planets – remember, this was the 1930s). E.g., Venus had a ring-shaped habitable zone between its light side and its dark side (remember, the 1930s) which was divided into a British sector, an American sector, a Dutch sector, etc. During the Cold War many writers posited a future with the solar system divided between Western and Soviet space colonies, always on the brink of war. ---
**Author:** ![Risha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@Risha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Risha)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-any-alien-races-with-cultural-diversity/255834/27 "2004-07-19T21:49:21Z")
In the [Liaden Universe](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0441009913/qid=1090273273/sr=5-2/ref=cm_lm_asin/104-3569934-2387165?v=glance&s=books), Liad itself seems pretty socially monolithic despite its complexity. (Of course, I’m about three books behind, so that may change.) However, it’s strongly implied that the Liadens, Terrans, and the pirate-like Yxtrang are actually all the same species, just widely scattered and with minor genetic differences. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-any-alien-races-with-cultural-diversity/255834/28 "2004-07-19T22:26:46Z")
> [@Ponder Stibbons](#): > > C.J. Cherryh’s “Foreigner” series comes to mind. The alien race (the atevi) are portrayed as thinking very different from humans, leading to a lot of the plot points, and also being quite varied amongst themselves. This may well be as much cultural diversity as you’ll see in a work of fiction, because too much diversity would require too much exposition and explanation, thus bogging down the plot. Cherryh in general is good about this. Her Chanur books also mention cultural/ethnic diversity of various alien species ( usually in passing, but it is an effective technique ) - she has a real interest in anthropological SF it seems. - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-any-alien-races-with-cultural-diversity/255834/29 "2004-07-19T23:12:24Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Consider Star Trek, for instance … socialist Ferengi … are extremely rare, if not unknown. In one episode of DS9 Rom forms a trade union. (I think the episode was called _Bar Asociation_ IIRC) ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-any-alien-races-with-cultural-diversity/255834/30 "2004-07-19T23:32:28Z")
> [@Jeff Olsen](#): > > Can’t get much more diverse than the [Xindi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xindi) in Enterprise. > > [picture of 4/5 of the Xindi Council](http://www.voyager.cz/enterprise/epizody/images/053/06.jpg) Sorry, but I have to call foul here. After reading that linked description, it’s clear that the Xindi are five completely different species who share a common planet of origin. The OP is looking for something more analagous to Earth: one species with a wide variety of cultures. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-any-alien-races-with-cultural-diversity/255834/31 "2004-07-20T00:08:22Z")
Well, quite a few “insectoid” species are probably out there (in fiction, I mean), with genetic “caste” systems—You know, a “warrior” caste, a worker caste, etc. And with actual physical differences. Would that count? The “Masters” in John Christopher’s _Tripod Trilogy_ had several different varieties of skin colors—albeit all shades of green and brownish-green—but they all shared a single culture. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-any-alien-races-with-cultural-diversity/255834/32 "2004-07-20T00:20:37Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > Sorry, but I have to call foul here. After reading that linked description, it’s clear that the Xindi are five completely different species who share a common planet of origin. No, they’re more than that. Not only do they share a common planet of origin, they also share a common ancestor. > [@](#): > > _The OP is looking for something more analagous to Earth: one species with a wide variety of cultures._ Except the OP said “race”, not “species”. The Xindi are technically one race with five subclasses. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-any-alien-races-with-cultural-diversity/255834/33 "2004-07-20T04:14:37Z")
I was going to mention the Xindi as well if they hadn’t been mentioned already. But now that I think about it, they probably aren’t what the OP was looking for anyway (or, if they are, aren’t the best example). The OP was looking for differences that are a little deeper and more nuanced than just physical, and we haven’t learned much about the different Xindi cultures beyond the basics: Xindi Primates = not jerks Xindi Sloth = not jerks Xindi Aquatics = don’t speak English, not jerks Xindi Reptilians = jerks Xindi Insectoids = jerks who don’t speak English (Xindi Avians = dead) ---
**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-any-alien-races-with-cultural-diversity/255834/34 "2004-07-20T05:01:14Z")
In Julian May’s Pleiocene Exile books, the alien race who inhabits earth 6 million years ago is divided into two social castes, the Tanu and the Firvulag. I think it is revealed that the Tanu, who look like tall humans, are not purebreeding and produce Firvulag at some rate. The Firvulag look more stocky and IIRC have some psychic abilities while the Tanu do not. The Firvulag are degenerate as well, and there is a subcaste of monstrous Firvulag called the Howlers, but this is a reaction to them living near some highly radioactive mineral deposits. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-any-alien-races-with-cultural-diversity/255834/35 "2004-07-20T05:39:48Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > Xindi Reptilians = jerks > Xindi Insectoids = jerks who don’t speak English Now that you bring it up…are there any Reptilian or Insectoid aliens races in fiction who _aren’t_ jerks? Granted, it’d be a little weird to see a species of Mantisoid space-hippies, or something… ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-any-alien-races-with-cultural-diversity/255834/36 "2004-07-20T05:54:57Z")
The Buggers in the Ender’s Game series of books are a misunderstood benevolent insectoid race. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-any-alien-races-with-cultural-diversity/255834/37 "2004-07-20T05:58:49Z")
_The Time Traveller_, **H.G.Wells** , has the Morlocks and Eloi, who turn out to be two halves of one race (surely I don’t need a spoiler box for one this old?) with totally different cultures. ---
**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-any-alien-races-with-cultural-diversity/255834/38 "2004-07-20T06:48:57Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > Now that you bring it up…are there any Reptilian or Insectoid aliens races in fiction who _aren’t_ jerks? > > Granted, it’d be a little weird to see a species of Mantisoid space-hippies, or something… In Vernor Vinge’s _Deepness in the Sky_, a group of spacefaring merchant humans take up orbit around a planet in the midst of a world war. The war is between two nations of insectoid aliens, one of which is ruled by a fanatical emperess and the other is a peace-loving, free nation. Or something along those lines. The humans try to stay out of it, but half of the book is written from the perspective of a famous alien scientist on the free side. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-any-alien-races-with-cultural-diversity/255834/39 "2004-07-20T11:59:47Z")
> [@Jeff Olsen](#): > > No, they’re more than that. Not only do they share a common planet of origin, they also share a common ancestor. Except the OP said “race”, not “species”. The Xindi are technically one race with five subclasses. I still think that we’re abusing terminology, here, but I’m not willing to argue the point any further. Like **Snooooopy** says, the OP is looking for diversity that is not based on physiology. Like the Vulcan mystics that we see in Star Trek III; they seem to be quite different from the stereotypical Vulcan scientists. In fact, the science-oriented Vulcans seem to be quite embarassed by the fact that Vulcans have rituals of any kind. There’s definitely some sort of cultural confict there. And of course, the Romulans are genetically Vulcan, but have a completely different philosophy. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-any-alien-races-with-cultural-diversity/255834/40 "2004-07-20T14:30:09Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > I still think that we’re abusing terminology, here, but I’m not willing to argue the point any further. Agreed; I was being facetious. I originally was going to include a smiliey but I didn’t think it was necessary. Guess I was wrong. > [@](#): > > Like **Snooooopy** says, the OP is looking for diversity that is not based on physiology. Like the Vulcan mystics that we see in Star Trek III; they seem to be quite different from the stereotypical Vulcan scientists. That reminds me of a Ferengi in TNG who was more interested in seeking pleasure rather than profit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-any-alien-races-with-cultural-diversity/255834.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-any-alien-races-with-cultural-diversity/255834.md?page=3)