Humans (?) on other worlds

I think you have to answer this question for yourself. It shouldn't be difficult. There are a number of reasons human like aliens could be on Earth.

That's the neat thing about writing SF you get to set your own laws and rules. The rules can be pretty flexible you just need to make sure you are consistant.

Abduction, luv... abudction.

The Invaders is one of my favorite Sci-Fi series. Ditto Brit TV series Counterstrike (sadly lost) and Gerry Anderson's UFO, which followed a similar Paranoia SF theme of aliens invading Earth because their distant homeworlds are dying.

-Derek

I'd say the first thing to decide is whether the aliens really are human / descended from a common ancestor of humans / descended from humans OR whether they just appear human-like.

Our brains like to fit what we see into neat familiar patterns, hence seeing the Virgin Mary on a piece of toast or the reports of ancient travelers describing apes as strange human tribes. So, if the aliens were generally similar to humans (four limbs, bilateral symmetry, roughly the same layout of orifices on the "head", etc.), we'd probably focus on their similarities and forget that their brains were actually in the lower part of their torso or other such significant differences. That could lead to interesting misunderstandings after first contact.

If you want them to really be "human" (in that there is a genetic relationship to homo sapiens), I can think of several ways that could happen:

- an early, now lost, technologically advanced human society that flew to the stars (you decide if Earth was the original society or the settlement)

- abduction of humans by another alien species

- transplantation of ancient apes (as a biology experiment?) and then evolution allowed to take its course - that would result in humanoids that are similar, but not identical-to, humans

That's just to kick off your own brainstorming

CMS said:

Thanks for all the replies.

Peggy: That's sort of what I was looking for. I'm trying to decide what 'path' to take in this.

My kids claim I can't use things that are 'normal' for SciFi.....like having some sort of 'universal translator' for understanding languages. I have to, instead, have a "trade language" that the Earth humans will have to learn.

Same with other humans on other worlds. They say I shouldn't have *any* humans on other planets. However, a very important section of my story requires either humans or aliens that are so like humans that the differences are unnoticeable. So, I'm trying to decide the best direction to go in, without falling back on any over-used standards. If I choose having humans on other worlds, I need to figure out what explanation I'll use, since I'm sure the humans from Earth would ask or wonder about it at some point.

ETA: I, personally, don't mind things like "universal translators" and "humans seeded on other worlds" as I'm a ST fan from WAY back. But, the kids say I need originality.

If you (generic 'you') are reading a SciFi novel, would you have any negative opinions of a story that used the "standard" answers or would you just accept that's how they are and move on with the story?

That's what I'm striving for.

-CMS
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If you hang around these boards long enough, you'll find most writers generally agree that originality isn't terribly important--if you write well enough, anything is fresh.

As for translators and whatnot, don't worry about it, I say. If you really are worried about originality, that's okay. You can create a different method; the sky's the limit.
Perhaps the humans need to eat some kind of jellybean every hour which enables the understanding of different languages.
There's always mind reading as an option, but that seems a bit cliche to me.
The humans could learn the language.
There's even the option of using interpretors if you want.

Personally, I see nothing wrong with the "standard answer", as long as the story grabs me.
Although, if the writer twists the standard a little to fit her style, that's great, too.

Happy writing,
Akuma.

Just remember that trade languages and "realistic" alien cultures have been done too. You just need to decide what works for your story, which should trump any of those details.

Humans are the rats of the universe. They scurry through the maintenance tunnels and turn up in the most damned of places.

CMS said:

If you (generic 'you') are reading a SciFi novel, would you have any negative opinions of a story that used the "standard" answers or would you just accept that's how they are and move on with the story?
-CMS
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I'd say borrowing/ reinventing the wheel is inevitable, just push that stuff in the background, don't give it too much play. Focus on your story, plot and characters and what you feel is original.

Looking at examples from TV rather than novels, Stargate and Star Trek come to mind. Both assume a more advanced race millenia ago took humans and seeded other planets, therefore at the point in time of the series many other planets have human cultures. Both series mention this fact in passing while concentrating on stories set on those other planets.

If it's important for your story to have human civilizations on other planets, go for it. Do those civilizations know how they originated? Maybe it's a mystery they're trying to solve, or maybe they just assume they originated on those other planets and don't know about Earth.

If your story is set in far future, another possibility is that humans from Earth spread out and colonized other worlds. Many stories deal with lost colonies or colonies which have broken away from Earth.

TheIT said:

Looking at examples from TV rather than novels, Stargate and Star Trek come to mind. Both assume a more advanced race millenia ago took humans and seeded other planets, therefore at the point in time of the series many other planets have human cultures. Both series mention this fact in passing while concentrating on stories set on those other planets.

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Yes, and the other "Star--" movie has humans a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. I think the "--star--" TV show says something about humans elsewhere than Earth, but it's become so convoluted, I gave up trying to figure it out a couple seasons ago.

Pthom said:

Yes, and the other "Star--" movie has humans a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. I think the "--star--" TV show says something about humans elsewhere than Earth, but it's become so convoluted, I gave up trying to figure it out a couple seasons ago.

sorry. I couldn't resist​

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Am I not the only who misses the original Galactica, cheesiness and all? Oh, good.

Most of the SF series I can think of offhand use colonization in the future to explain other human worlds: Doctor Who, Blake's Seven, Andromeda, Firefly, etc. Using long ago colonization (like Stargate) grants a good reason for differing levels of technology on other worlds in case some of the colonies lost knowledge.

For novels, Asimov's Foundation series might be helpful.

CMS said:

My kids claim I can't use things that are 'normal' for SciFi.....like having some sort of 'universal translator' for understanding languages. I have to, instead, have a "trade language" that the Earth humans will have to learn.

Same with other humans on other worlds. They say I shouldn't have *any* humans on other planets. However, a very important section of my story requires either humans or aliens that are so like humans that the differences are unnoticeable. So, I'm trying to decide the best direction to go in, without falling back on any over-used standards. If I choose having humans on other worlds, I need to figure out what explanation I'll use, since I'm sure the humans from Earth would ask or wonder about it at some point.

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Are your kids editors, publishers or agents? If not I'd take anything they say with a grain of salt. Kids are well, kids, it's really hard for them to be objective especially when it comes to dealing with a parent. My son did a book report listing me as his third favorite SF writer behind, Douglas Adams and Orson Scott Card. On one level it's great to be in such company, on another it's kind of annoying when he looks over my shoulder as I type, shakes his head and utters the words, "Douglas Adams would have said it funnier." It's like, "well duh." I acknowledge his opinion then write on.

You have to write what YOU want to write.

None of us can really answer this question for you. That's the fun about being a writer you get to ask the question then come up with your own answer. If you like the answer you invent chances are good that other people (maybe even your kids) will like this answer too.

Heck, if I create a really cool, really interesting, really original reason for aliens to be on Earth or humans to be on other planets I'm using it in my own books.

Good luck discovering your own take on matters.

Some great advice in here. I'd like to echo Kentuk's: downplay the explanation, whatever it is. Somebody else has already done it, whatever it is. It's wallpaper. You can let people see it, but don't waste any time discussing it beyond that.

CMS said:

Again, thank you all for your replies. You're right, of course. My children (they're both over 18 now, so not technically 'kids', anymore, I suppose) often suggest ideas I don't agree with, so don't use. I don't know why this one particular situation became such an issue.

I suppose I just needed an opinion that fit on the 'other side of the fence', so to speak; the side I'd prefer to be on.

So, I'll just stick with my original plan and have humans on other worlds here and there. And, should my PC's become too curious, I'll give them a cookie and send them to their rooms.

-CMS
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Sounds like a plan.

When my son has ideas for me I always tell him, "when you write your own novels you can write them your way." Of course I'm going to have "suggestions" for him that I'm sure he'll ignore.