What's your favorite SF alien?

In My Humble Opinion
1

Now, I’m thinking of SF literature, but of course I can’t restrict your choices so movies, TV, comics, etc., also count.

What’s your favorite alien species? Why?

I’m particularly partial to Larry Niven’s Pierson’s Puppeteers. A mercantile race of cowardly “two headed centaurs” who cornered the market on starship hulls, and who have musical, sultry voices. Tanj, you have to read Niven’s novels to understand.

If you haven’t read any of Larry Niven’s Known Space books, you’re missing some of the best modern SF there is. I recommend you start with the shorts collection Neutron Star, and after that, you can appreciate any of his novels.

2

Also Niven. Pak Protectors. The whole concept of “Tree of Life” boggled my mind the first time I read it and it’s one of the few books that can recapture my “sensawonda” no matter how often I reread it.

In the same vein, Mother Things are pretty high up there too.

Fenris

3

Another vote for the puppeteers. Heck, any of Niven’s creations. Until I first read Niven (oh, so long ago), I had never encountered so fully-realized and utterly-alien aliens.

4

Well, how about the “Tran” from Alan Dean Foster’s Icerigger, for obvious reasons.
My favorite are from ADF as well, the “Thranx”.

5

The Liadens and the Clutch from Sharon Lee and Steve Miller’s novels. The Liadens because I like the detail put into their social system; the Liaden honor system and Balance. The Clutch because, well, who doesn’t enjoy a race of giant turtles?