Episode 475 – Alien Species of Sci-Fi: The Most Creative Extraterrestrials

From Xenomorphs to ETs: Which Alien Species is the Best? This week on the podcast, Brian and Darryl boldly go into the sci-fi vault to debate the most creative alien species in the galaxy. Think Na’vi spirituality meets Xenomorph acid vomit. From hive-minded cybernetic zombies to fire-based art snobs, it’s time to crown the weirdest, wildest, most wonderful extraterrestrials in fiction. Episode Index Intro: 0:07 Alien, Mine: Alien Showdown… Who’s the Best? Darryl Heptapods (from Arrival) Physical Traits – Appearance: Heptapods are seven-limbed (hence the name “hepta-” meaning seven) creatures with a large, oval-shaped head and a body that appears to be semi-transparent2. – Eyes: They have thousands of small, dime-sized eyes in clusters, which are actually patches of photosensitive skin. – Sensory Perception: They use sophisticated sonar to perceive their environment, allowing them to detect even minute details. Culture – Non-linear Perception of Time: Heptapods experience time non-linearly, meaning they perceive past, present, and future simultaneously. This is reflected in their language and behavior3. – Patience and Long-term Thinking: Their non-linear perception of time gives them a unique perspective on patience and long-term consequences. They are willing to wait for humans to understand their language and purpose4. – Purpose of Arrival: They arrive on Earth to share their language, Heptapod B, which they believe will help humanity understand their non-linear perception of time and potentially aid them in the future. Language – Heptapod A: This is their spoken language, which sounds very organic and is designed to be heard rather than spoken. – Heptapod B: This is their written language, consisting of circular logograms that represent entire concepts or sentences rather than individual words. The meaning of these logograms depends on the tendrils and splotches branching out from their circular rings2. – Impact on Humans: Learning Heptapod B alters the human perception of time, allowing them to experience events out of sequence, similar to how Heptapods perceive time. MorningLightMountain (Commonwealth Saga by Peter F. Hamilton) Physical Traits: – Prime Bodies: MorningLightMountain’s consciousness inhabits billions of distinct Prime bodies. These bodies are divided into two types: motiles and immotiles1. – Motiles: Motiles can see and move but are relatively unintelligent on their own. – Immotiles: Immotiles are blind and immobile but highly intelligent. They can breed motiles, and four motiles can merge to form a new immotile1. – Wormhole Technology: MorningLightMountain possesses wormhole technology, allowing its bodies to communicate over arbitrarily large distances. Mental Traits: – Hive Mind: MorningLightMountain operates as a hive mind, with a single united consciousness spread across billions of bodies. – Xenophobic and Expansionist: The Primes, including MorningLightMountain, are highly xenophobic and expansionist, seeking to subsume or destroy other species. – Highly Intelligent: Immotiles can link to each other for greater processing power, making MorningLightMountain one of the most powerful Primes. Linguistic Traits: – Non-Verbal Communication: MorningLightMountain primarily communicates non-verbally through its network of bodies. – Radio Transmitters: Primes use implanted radio transmitters to stay wirelessly connected, allowing for long-range communication. Saga of the Seven Suns series (Kevin J Anderson) Hydrogues – Physical Traits: Elemental beings composed of water and gas, often appearing as massive, swirling masses of liquid and vapor. – Culture: Highly territorial and aggressive, especially when their habitats are threatened. They have a deep connection to water and gas. – Language: Communicate through complex patterns of vibrations and waves. Faeros – Physical Traits: Elemental beings associated with fire and light, emitting a warm glow and capable of producing flames. – Culture: Passionate and energetic, valuing creativity and expression. They are often involved in artistic and spiritual pursuits. – Language: Communicate through a combination of spoken language and visual symbols, using their fiery abilities to create intricate patterns and displays. Borg Physical Traits: – Cybernetic Enhancements: The Borg are a collective of various species that have been assimilated and augmented with cybernetic implants. This results in a mix of biological and mechanical features. – Pale Skin: Their skin tends to be pale or grayish due to the integration of technology and loss of individuality. – Mechanical Limbs and Eyes: Many Borg drones have mechanical limbs and/or eyes, often replacing their original biological parts with more efficient cybernetic versions. Culture: – Collective Consciousness: The Borg operate as a hive mind, known as the Collective. Individuality is suppressed, and all drones are connected through a...