What Fictional Alien Concepts interest You the Most?

[Bab5space]

For me it is their behavior. How it is different from humanity. Some will seek to answer the why, but I am only interested in their ongoing goals. To a large degree that fits their behavior, since in my work, each fictional race I tailor made for a specific purpose which drives them to do what they do. There still is plenty of room for individuality within this too.What about you? What fictional alien concepts interest you most and why?

 

[Stephen Tashi]

To me, the most interesting aspects of alien behavior are those that resemble the behavior of some humans. Alien characters can be used effectively to portray extremes of human behavor. This technique can create a satire of how humans operate.

To create an alien character whose behavior doesn't resemble a human behavior is an interesting "literary exercise", but to be entertaining, such an alien needs to resemble some familiar phenomenon - like an unreliable vending machine or an automated phone answer system.

 

[berkeman]

I enjoyed the Predator series of movies because of the depth and complexity of the alien character(s), and the well-done production of the nuances in the movies.

The concept of an alien race of advanced predators who pride themselves on being able to survive and prey on other animals (and trophy hunt other beings) that are very capable of defending themselves, plus their ethics of not harming innocent beings or unarmed beings, etc., was very thought provoking for me. I especially liked the scene in Predator 2 (I think that was the one) where Danny Glover was looking into a shop window with several taxidermy heads on display, and the focus changed back to his reflection. Great stuff.

Anyway, full disclosure, I'm a hunter, and I found the self-reflection parts of the Predator series very well done and thought-provoking. It has to be hard to think up basic alien/Sci-Fi concepts like this, let alone fill them out so well with so many thought-provoking scenes.

https://cdn.onebauer.media/one/empi...&ratio=16-9&resizeStyle=aspectfill&format=jpg

 

[Bab5space]

To me, the most interesting aspects of alien behavior are those that resemble the behavior of some humans. Alien characters can be used effectively to portray extremes of human behavor. This technique can create a satire of how humans operate.

To create an alien character whose behavior doesn't resemble a human behavior is an interesting "literary exercise", but to be entertaining, such an alien needs to resemble some familiar phenomenon - like an unreliable vending machine or an automated phone answer system.

Can a human make up an alien? Yes, but it is not an alien.

Knowing that, it is not my goal to do the impossible.

My aliens I create for my story all have a purpose in the galaxy. One accepts and supports truth, which makes their society different than humanity economically, religiously, and politicalky. Another is territorial, to the point that they are so possesive that they only trade or buy mostly. Donations are done either when they no longer want something, or when they expect some future return benefit that they will require later. Even with children and friends. Individuals need to have something of their own to protect, ot else they will become depressed, even suicidal. Thus that is one reason they travel space, to get their own stuff. The homeworld is fully owned already, so younger folks try to start their own colonies to have something that is uniquely their own.The fun part is the inevitable human/alien culture clash.

I guess the only real precedent is learning to adapt to cultures we are not native to.