Science Fiction Alien Encounters Home Page

Science Fiction: Alien Encounters
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	A common science fiction theme is first contact with an intelligent extraterrestrial species at least the equal of humanity.
	However, before true aliens could exist in the minds of science fiction writers, two developments had to occur: Astronomers had to demonstrate the existence of other planets where aliens could live; Darwin had to develop his theory of evolution so writers could perceive that different environments required different kinds of beings.
	As demonstrated by H.G. Wells in War of the Worlds, this contact often leads directly to warfare. However, the more mature alien encounter stories surmise that a contact with an alien civilization will force the Earth to look at itself differently forever after. In fact, many authors use their depiction of human interaction with aliens to comment on contemporary human behavior and events.
	There are many ways to categorize stories of alien encounter. In some of these stories aliens come to Earth; in others humans travel to alien planets. In some of these stories the encounters are peaceful; in others either we or the aliens are aggressors and invaders. In some of these stories the encounters are public; in other aliens attempt to keep their existence secret from all or most of the population.
	One subset of alien encounter stories focuses on religious belief and the question of whether Christ is the savior of alien civilizations as well as humans.
	Another subset of alien encounter stories focuses primarily on the difficulty of communicating with aliens.
	Interspecies mating is still another subject that is explored in such stories.