What do you consider to be the most interesting alien race?

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers on various alien races from science fiction literature, highlighting the Moties from "The Mote in God's Eye" and the Kzin as notable examples. Participants express admiration for the unique biological and societal traits of these races, particularly the Moties' reproductive compulsions leading to societal collapse. Other mentioned races include the xenomorphs from "Alien," the Puppeteers from "Ringworld," and the Q continuum from "Star Trek." The conversation also touches on the complexities of creating believable alien species in storytelling.

PREREQUISITES
  • Familiarity with science fiction literature, particularly works by Larry Niven and John Varley.
  • Understanding of biological and societal concepts as they relate to fictional alien races.
  • Knowledge of key science fiction themes such as existentialism and societal collapse.
  • Awareness of popular science fiction franchises like "Star Trek" and "Alien."
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore the societal structures of the Moties in "The Mote in God's Eye."
  • Research the characteristics and lore of the Kzin from the "Known Space" universe.
  • Investigate the portrayal of xenomorphs in the "Alien" franchise and their biological traits.
  • Analyze the philosophical implications of the Q continuum in "Star Trek."
USEFUL FOR

Science fiction enthusiasts, writers crafting alien species, and fans of speculative literature seeking to deepen their understanding of alien cultures and their narrative significance.

  • #91
I think Farscape had quite a few of the most interesting alien species, with Babylon 5 a close second.

Farscape - characters listed, race/species name not available.
1. The Pilot
2. Pa'u Zotoh Zhaan (a plant humanoid)
3. Ha D'Argo
4. Dominar Rygel XVI
5. Scorpius
6. Chiana
​
Babylon 5
Character - Race
1. Delenn - Mimbari
2. Vir Coto and Londo Mollari - Centari
3. G'Kar - Narn​
 
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  • #92
Buzz Bloom said:
Babylon 5
Character - Race
1. Delenn - Mimbari
2. Vir Coto and Londo Mollari - Centari
3. G'Kar - Narn

I loved B5. Belong to a Facebook fan group. The Physics Forum thing about the show I found most interesting is how Straczinski dealt with the FTL problem. Don't build a starship, build a universe the ship can access to get to other points in the galaxy quickly.