How to Make Your Aliens Feel Alien
Have you ever watched a sci-fi show and thought, “These aliens are just humans with purple skin”? Human-like aliens are my pet peeve when reading sci-fi novels. TV shows will do this because it is less expensive than designing a non-human looking alien, but authors don’t have the excuse of keeping production costs down!
I’m not saying you can’t give your aliens a few extra arms, but think beyond body shape and appendages when designing your aliens. Consider the things you may take for granted about being human; for example: skin. What if the alien has fur, scales, or something even more unusual, such as a rock-like surface?
Does their digestive system work differently? Do they eat similar food to humans, or something completely different, like minerals, radiation, or light? Instead of walking, do they roll, slither, or fly (or what if they don’t move at all)? Do they have eyes? Do they breathe oxygen or something else? Take inspiration from animals across the word—perhaps they use echolocation like bats, can slide out of their skin like a gecko, or spray an unholy scent like a skunk. Perhaps the males are the ones who get pregnant, like seahorses. Perhaps they only have one sex, or maybe they have many. An otherworldly species may not speak in a similar way that humans do—perhaps they don’t have a larynx, vocal cords, or a tongue. What if they only communicate telepathically, or use sign language, or use pheromones?
And physical traits aren’t the only thing to consider. Culture plays a huge role in who we are. It also plays a sneaky role. There are things you have been taught are “normal” that you may not realize are a product of your society. For example, when I visited Romania, I learned the bubble of space North Americans put around themselves is a cultural thing. Romanians will stand really close to you when they’re talking to you, like with their feet pretty much touching yours, and that’s normal to them, but it felt very uncomfortable to me, since I’m used to more space.
What is considered “polite” is cultural—in some regions, a thumbs-up sign is considered rude, tipping is taboo, being naked in public is normal, or people smile all the time (so if you don’t, it’s considered rude). And these are cultures in our own world—nevermind from a completely different planet.
If two alien species have never met, it is highly likely that there will be barriers to communication, cultural misunderstandings, and confusion as they get to know each other (assuming they are both friendly and are even making that effort). Your aliens will not immediately understand how to interact with each other. Even if they are somewhat similar physically, something as simple as a facial expression could be misinterpreted.
Considering all these aspects will help your aliens feel more alien. (Though if this all seems too overwhelming, there’s nothing wrong with making a sci-fi story that only has humans in it.)
If you’re looking for inspiration for your sci-fi story, some novels that do a fantastic job of aliens include the following:
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
This is a first-contact story about a human trying to communicate with an alien that is very alien—it does not look the same, it does not speak the same, it needs an entirely different environment to survive. Yet, they manage to find some common ground and are able to work together. It is so endearing and how they learn to communicate is fascinating.
The Skyward series by Brandon Sanderson
A variety of alien species are introduced in book #2. One species don’t even have bodies (they are made of gas/vapours), another are basically tiny talking foxes (my favourite), another are crab-like creatures that require a nutrient bath to float in, and more.
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
This is about a diverse, multispecies crew on a spaceship. The novel is largely about character development, so a lot of cultural differences are explored.
Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org, so if you click through and purchase any of the books linked in this article, I will earn a small commission AND you will support an indie book store!
And there you have it. Go forth, dear writers, and make your aliens diverse. Otherwise why make them aliens at all?
