943

Radio transmissions (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 1 day ago by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/science_memes@mander.xyz

49 comments fedilink hide all child comments

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[-] judgyweevil@feddit.it 40 points 1 day ago

We always tend to portray aliens in science fiction as humanoids. It's time to change that

[-] bleistift2@sopuli.xyz 28 points 1 day ago

Isaac Asimov, “Hostess” (1951):

There were four fingers but no thumb. Each finger had five independent ball-and-socket joints. In this way, the flexibility lost with the absence of the thumb was made up for by the almost tentacular properties of the fingers. What was even more interesting to her biologist’s eyes was the fact that each Hawkinsite finger ended in a vestigial hoof, very small and, to the layman, unidentifiable as such, but clearly adapted at one time to running, just as man’s had been to climbing.

[…]

“[…] Look, there are five intelligent races in the Galaxy. These have all developed independently, yet have managed to converge in remarkable fashion. It is as though, in the long run, intelligence requires a certain physical makeup to flourish. […]”

[…]

“Now when the differences among the intelligences are closely investigated, it is found over and over again that it is you Earthmen, more than any of the others, who are unique. For instance, it is only on Earth that life depends upon metal enzymes for respiration. Your people are the only ones which find hydrogen cyanide poisonous. Yours is the only form of intelligent life which is carnivorous. Yours is the only form of life which has not developed from a grazing animal. And, most interesting of all, yours is the only form of intelligent life known which stops growing upon reaching maturity.”

[-] brrt@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 day ago

Adrian Tchaikovsky would like a word.

[-] victorz@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Can you recommend some of his work to start?

[-] brrt@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

The main reason I mentioned him is the Children of Time series, it revolves around non-humanoid “aliens” a lot. Fantastic series, but I love almost any of his SciFi stories.

[-] victorz@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

Cool, thank you, friend!

[-] frigidaphelion@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

His "The Final Architecture" series also has a lot of non-humanoid aliens in it. Somewhat different in tone than the Children books but also super enjoyable!

[-] corvi@lemm.ee 4 points 1 day ago

Children of Time

[-] brrt@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 day ago

Almost “Username checks out” :)

[-] leftzero@lemmynsfw.com 9 points 1 day ago

Rocky from Hail Mary is sort of crab-like, and I think they're making a film adaptation...

[-] bdonvr@thelemmy.club 4 points 1 day ago

Yep. Very non-human or earth like at all in anatomy.

[-] spankmonkey@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

"That would be expensive! Just slap a crab necklace on some guy and call it a day."

-the producers

[-] SkaveRat@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 1 day ago

Coming out in March

Very excited

[-] Ephera@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 day ago

Yeah, I hate that so much. Often times, it's clearly just easier/cheaper to put makeup on a human actor, or at least for the aliens to be able to use the same equipment. But it's so boring. If I want to see a humanoid with different skin color, I'll visit my neighbor.

[-] BuboScandiacus@mander.xyz 5 points 1 day ago

Aaaaand there is the Mass Effect reason

[-] FrChazzz@lemmus.org 6 points 1 day ago

iirc, in Star Trek the Klingons descend from a crab-like ancestor. I mean, yes, I understand what you’re getting at but I still think it’s kinda cool that Klingons are sort of humanoid crabs

[-] mosiacmango@lemm.ee 22 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Which canon? In TNG, they establish that humans/klingons/romulans/cardasians/etc all share the same progenitor race that seeded the stars based on their DNA.

[-] FrChazzz@lemmus.org 7 points 1 day ago

I think I read it somewhere in a trivia thing on Memory Alpha, but I honestly donʻt remember. But the Progenitors seeded common ancestors with their DNA. Which means that species like the Xindi wouldʻve had Progenitor DNA even though they have a multi-facted evolution with reptillian, primate, and arboreal humanoids…

[-] princessnorah@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 1 day ago

You're forgetting the three other Xindi species, that are much less humanoid. The Avians, who look much like a pterodactyl. The Insectoids, who look like praying mantis. And the coolest of them, the Aquatics, who have amazing spaceships full of water rather than air, which made for some awesome scenes!