Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science » in reply to I feel some sci-fi coming on

How humans think about aliens
TB — (archived)

That there's a lot of anthropomorphism is obvious. In almost all the movies and TV shows (SF books do better), aliens are either mindless monsters or basically just humans who look funny.

But beyond that, it gets even more personal. Ever notice how people who talk about intelligent aliens or make movies about them, always unconsciously assume they have their own views on things?

Like trade, and its inevitable corollary, advertising, being a uniquely human failing that would be condemned by our Space Brothers.

If you want an SF idea, how about the aliens finally making contact because we've shown we can actually offer something useful instead of cute diagrams of our location and lists of math formulas?

Who knows what the universe will think humans have to offer? In Phil Foglio's humorous "Buck Godot" series, humans make their initial mark on the galaxy by being the only ones who thought of freezing flavored liquids and putting them on sticks.

And if you can, dig up a copy of Damon Knight's "The Big Pat Boom."

The writers of "Star Trek, the Next Generation" had a good time with the Ferengi, but a more realistic image of a trading race might be Larry Niven's "Outsiders."

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