Typically, in science fiction, stories are told from the point of view of the most relatable characters. Scrappy human freedom fighters, rebels, and malcontents overthrow unknowable invaders, aliens, or machine overlords to preserve humanity as they know it. Rarely though, a novel comes along that takes this traditional idea and reverses it, instead creating a narrative from the alien point of view. The result, presents readers with a unique story and writers with a unique set of challenges. How does one write from an alien point of view when one is human? How does an alien mind think? What would motivate an alien protagonist versus a human one? All of these questions have to be answered in detail, not only to maintain the suspension of disbelief, but to keep readers engaged. Well written novels from alien perspectives are, in my opinion, few and far between. I have compiled a list of five that are definitely worth a read, due to their creative approach and otherworldly perspective. Here they are in no particular order:
Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon
This work is an absolute brain bender. Its narrator is human, but that doesn’t change the fact that it has some incredibly compelling descriptions of alien intellects and cultures. The story follows the protagonist on a journey through time and space with various alien companions whose existence, beliefs, and ideas are far beyond the scope and scale of traditional science fiction tropes. This exceptionally creative work is dense, and it is not for the faint of heart since it’s a pretty challenging read. However, if you are willing to put the time in, this is possibly one of the best novels of its kind.
A Fire Upon The Deep by Vernor Vinge
This novel includes almost no humans and explores the concept of an intergalactic war, from the perspective of a non-human species. In this tale, a supreme race has evolved beyond a corporeal existence and it inadvertently unleashes a war upon several “inferior” species. The narrative focuses on the lesser races and their quest to save a human family, which happens to be the key to their survival. Vinge’s novel is significantly more readable than Stapledon’s, but the overall level of intricacy is very similar. This Hugo award winner is definitely worth reading, if you want to experience an artful representation of alien perspectives in science fiction.
Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banks
This is another novel about a war that spans the stars. Here the story focuses on two non-human races that are each on a crusade to annihilate the other. Billions of deaths have resulted from this war and each group searches for a hidden being that is crucial to ending the conflict. This book takes a more humorous, satirical approach to the intergalactic politics, and makes for an enjoyable, wickedly funny read.
SOLARIS by Stanislaw Lem
This novel is a science fiction classic in its own right, and it has twice been adapted as a feature film. The story centers around an alien organism that spans an entire ocean. The organism can read human thoughts, and it eventually creates human projections that are derived from memories and experiences. By chronicling the interactions between a human researcher and this new neutrino based life form on the planet Solaris, this novel explores alien intelligence in a way that can only be described as intensely personal. SOLARIS is as much a personal exploration, as it is a portrayal of alien intelligence making contact with the human race.
Space Odyssey series by Arthur C. Clarke
When it comes to storytelling from an alien point of view, the novels in Clarke’s Space Odyssey series are probably the touchstone for explaining/portraying an alien intelligence. Clarke’s aliens are beings that continued their evolution until they became beings of pure energy. They exist at all points in time at the same time, and so they have a unique perspective on the inner workings of the universe itself. Their motivations for driving other species up the evolutionary ladder are rational, but their comprehension is truly beyond the scale and scope of the human mind. Clarke’s work can be a challenge to read, as his style, at least to me, is much more academic than that of most science fiction authors; however, the depth of detail associated with his writing is absolutely incredible, and as a result you feel as though you’re reading a historical document instead of a novel.
So there you have it, five novels portraying alien points of view. Taking a commonly understood concept and turning it on its head is what good literature should do. These fractured tales give us a window into the minds of extraterrestrial lifeforms and in doing so, allow us to explore alien worlds in novel ways that simply weren’t possible before.
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Oliver Thiermann is the founder and CEO at theArcShapeR. Team leader by day and content creator by night, he always keeps an eye out for innovative ways to bring readers and writers together. Ollie is also an epic nerd, who hungers for all things Fantasy and Sci-Fi related.
A mirror for Observers E. Pangborn classic
I agree…but Ursula K. LeGuin should be on that list, as well as C.J.Cherryh. Both created amazing, alien worlds and cultures, both received a Hugo in recognition, and both are female.
I think you should do a list of 10 or 20