Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site topaz.RUTGERS.EDU Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!cbdkc1!desoto!packard!topaz!JWHITE%MAINE.BITNET From: JWHITE%MAINE.BITNET@WISCVM.ARPA Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers Subject: What to do when the aliens arrive. Message-ID: <3291@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU> Date: Thu, 15-Aug-85 10:10:32 EDT Article-I.D.: topaz.3291 Posted: Thu Aug 15 10:10:32 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 18-Aug-85 01:38:45 EDT Sender: daemon@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J. Lines: 42 From: JWHITE%MAINE.BITNET@WISCVM.ARPA (Jim White) When the first creature from another planet first sets foot, (tenticle, pod, or whatever it may 'set'), on Earth, if it is within our power to do so, we should kill it and eat it. E.T. and Close encounters of the Third Kind aside, real extra terrestrials are unlikely to be so kind and benevolent. A space faring race of beings would be way ahead of us technologically. Being the case, and assuming a continued interaction of two cultures that are many orders of magnitude removed from each other technologically, the less advanced race, (us) would undoubtedly suffer a wide spread collapse of sociological coherance. Consider the cases on Earth that, during the colonial era of 70 to 200 years ago, left advanced western/european societies imposing many of their cultural norms on the countries/areas they occupied. The American Indian, Australian Aboriginal and much of Black Africa today still suffers from the colonial period. Their loosely organized societies were unable to stand up to the much more structured cultures of the colonial powers. That fate would likely await us also. Their culture would undoubtedly be much different from ours, and their technology would be suited to their culture. For us to thus take advantage of their advanced goodies, a dramatic cultural upheaval would be required. Does anyone know of any Sci-fi that deals with this issue? Most I've read runs along these lines; 1) The E.T. type- benevolent cuddly aliens 2) The Childhood's End type- powerful saviors 3) War of the Worlds type- violent encounters 4) The Janissaries- slavers Oh well enough for now. I would be interested in titles/authors that have tried to approach the issue of cultural interaction between very different cultures. Bye Jim White