Inventing aliens...

[Bindi]

I wanted to ask...

Do any of you have trouble inventing new aliens? I know probably the wise thing to do would be to have maybe two or three races and stick to them, but I've got my whole universe and I like having loads of races... but that makes a problem of how many legs? Do they have legs? Do they have eyes? How many? What do they look like? and I find it hard sometimes to be imaginative enough. And then of course, you have to name them!

 

[JHerzog01]

I have problems with people who try to invent entirely new species and then call them "elves" and "dwarfs" lol

 

[JonNoName]

I find naming them the toughest. Figuring out what they look like is the fun part because you can do absolutely anything!

But coming up with a name that doesn't sound too crazy and is actually pronounceable is the tough part for me.

 

[shashekar]

Decide how they think and perceive the world around them, everything else follows.

 

[kmtolan]

I tend to come up with a storyline or idea first that sounds cool, then try and back my way into an alien race to support the story. Heh, both end up getting changed in the process, but it is fun fun fun! It's all cause and effect as you reverse engineer evolution.

Naming them...uh, hell, I can't even remember how I come up with the names half the time. Suggests I wasn't sober.

Kerry

 

[Bindi]

Brilliant!

I do the 'what are the things around me' naming process... You know... I get desperate and end up thinking of Frontdoorians and the Clockites...

I usually get there in the end

 

[shashekar]

Brilliant!

I do the 'what are the things around me' naming process... You know... I get desperate and end up thinking of Frontdoorians and the Clockites...

I usually get there in the end

Alternately, spell body parts backwards. Fear the Sirotilc!

 

[Pulp]

For my "Space Opera" universe I plan on creating a fictional alien race which looks exactly like humans, except for pointy ears and a funny forehead. They are quite capable and willing learn and speak English.

Scientists are stumped at the massive, massive improbability this presents, and religious types are alternately going nuts and/or proclaiming this as proof of their god.

***

You could always go the route of "unknowable horrors" where the mere sight of them turns humans insane. As a subversion, the aliens are actually rather nice in person, though taking a pair of sunglasses on a diplomatic mission recommended.

 

[Tristis]

Okay, here goes:

Close your eyes. Stand on the ramp of your character's space ship - but don't get in the way, because they have business to do. Look around. Who do you see? How big/small are they? How do they move? What is the colour of their skin/scales/fur? Do they have to wear special equipment to walk amongst your main characters?

Then ask yourself: What the hell am I doing here --?
No. Ask yourself: What kind of world would that species come from? What kind of society do they look like they have? How do they communicate with each other? What is important to them?

They are going to name themselves something they see as the most important (or, for the meek, the least important) point of creation on their home world. They will almost always call themselves "the people" or "the beings" the question is only what that sounds like.

Maybe you'll come out of this daydream with a species name. Maybe you'll merely wake up at 3:AM and wonder how you managed to waste another night at the keyboard. Either way, fun.

 

[Bindi]

Oh DEAR, shashekar!!!

I like your humour, Pulp

Thanks a lot Tristis, that's a lovely image. I do try to daydream about my species- I end up dreaming about them sometimes. It's always good to try and think of it really happening around you- I find it helps to write descriptions of events too.