So I've been doing some reading on creating believable aliens*, and a question arose that none of the books hint at. Since I know there are some knowledgable people here, I thought I'd throw it out here:
One of the things everything I've read agrees on is that alien physiologies down to their fundemental bio-chemistry should be different from what we have here on Earth. These means no cheap plot devices like aliens dying from a common (or not so uncommon) earth disease or bacteria.
But would that preclude alien societies bio-engineering diseases to affect each other? Sure, an alien race may have a fundamentally different bio-chemistry, but if another race comes to understand it and has the technology to do so, wouldn't bio-warfare be an advantage?** Afterall, it's not like bio-engineering something that might get loose and wreak havoc on the race who created it.
The other side of the question is if it is believable/viable/whatever that understanding the bio-chemistry of your own species would make it easier to make the leap to understanding the basic bio-chemistry of an aliean species?
Love to hear your thoughts.
* These are the two primary books I've been reading:
http://www.amazon.com/Science-Aliens-Clifford-Pickover/dp/0465073158/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1236017205&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/Aliens-Societies-Science-Fiction-Writing/dp/0898797063/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1236017191&sr=8-1
I'd also be interested if anyone has any other suggested reading, particularly for books or articles out in the last 2-3 years.
** I realize it's far more effective to throw rocks at your enemies planets, however, I'm going on the assumption that they may have perfectly livable planets you want.
One of the things everything I've read agrees on is that alien physiologies down to their fundemental bio-chemistry should be different from what we have here on Earth. These means no cheap plot devices like aliens dying from a common (or not so uncommon) earth disease or bacteria.
But would that preclude alien societies bio-engineering diseases to affect each other? Sure, an alien race may have a fundamentally different bio-chemistry, but if another race comes to understand it and has the technology to do so, wouldn't bio-warfare be an advantage?** Afterall, it's not like bio-engineering something that might get loose and wreak havoc on the race who created it.
The other side of the question is if it is believable/viable/whatever that understanding the bio-chemistry of your own species would make it easier to make the leap to understanding the basic bio-chemistry of an aliean species?
Love to hear your thoughts.
* These are the two primary books I've been reading:
http://www.amazon.com/Science-Aliens-Clifford-Pickover/dp/0465073158/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1236017205&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/Aliens-Societies-Science-Fiction-Writing/dp/0898797063/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1236017191&sr=8-1
I'd also be interested if anyone has any other suggested reading, particularly for books or articles out in the last 2-3 years.
** I realize it's far more effective to throw rocks at your enemies planets, however, I'm going on the assumption that they may have perfectly livable planets you want.
