Favourite alien species?

[finvarre]

What are the alien species you liked most/found most interesting?
I'd say I liked most the hani and the mahendo'sat in CJ Cherryh's Chanur series, and then the kif were fascinating there. Besides, I liked the mri in the Faded Sun Trilogy and the atevi in the Foreigner series. But then, Cherryh specialises in writing about human- alien relationships and sometimes her alien characters are more vivid and understandable than the human ones (see the Chanur saga)
After that, I enjoyed very much all of David Brin's Uplift universe books, the species uplifted by the humans were sweet - the chimpanzees and the Dolphins -certainly too good to be true! Among the more alien ones my favourites were the Gubru, that is, the avians in The Uplift War and the Tymbrimi - the ones with a sense of humour.
I liked as well the aliens in the Dread Empire's Fall by Walter Jon Williams: although they were not as well characterised, the idea of humans living in harmony with other alien species under the rule of the immortal Shaa was pretty refreshing.
And don't forget the Aliens - an extremely cute species, too! - though I've only watched the movies

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

In my opinion, no one does alien species like Cherryh. Hands down, she's the best. Although sometimes they are so convincingly alien I can't always follow their thinking, they are always so vividly portrayed that I'm convinced. I love the mri, the hani, the atevi, and the iduve.

 

[finvarre]

I haven't read about the iduve. Which book are they from?

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

One of her early ones: Hunter of Worlds.

Welcome to these forums, by the way.

 

[GOLLUM]

In my opinion, no one does alien species like Cherryh. Hands down, she's the best. Although sometimes they are so convincingly alien I can't always follow their thinking, they are always so vividly portrayed that I'm convinced. I love the mri, the hani, the atevi, and the iduve.

Well actually I'd say Robert Silverberg isn't too bad either Kelpie but Cherryh is probably about the best.....

 

[SkepJ]

Larry Niven's: Pierson's Puppeteers

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

(casting my mind back a few decades)

Now that you mention Niven, I'll admit to a certain fondness for the Kzinti.

 

[lazygun]

both from Known space..

 

[Jay]

I'm not sure what we would describe as alien, but the best non-human creation I have seen recently, is the China Mieville's The Weaver from Perdido Street Station

 

[finvarre]

Well, the Weaver certainly was alien If we dicuss fantasy non-humans, then, I'd say there's a plenty of fascinating races in Erikson. I have a soft spot for the Tiste Andii, because of Anomander Rake

 

[cyborg_cinema]

Among my favorite creatures from other dimensions...

"Pine Folk: pale green hair, pale green skin, pale green clothes...Used to be men, now have the sap of pine trees instead of blood."

http://www.btinternet.com/~alan.catherine/wargames/corum2.htm

 

[SciFi_Short_Story]

Besides, I liked the mri in the Faded Sun Trilogy and the atevi in the Foreigner series.

It's funny: I went to a booksale at a library a long time ago and bought a first edition of Kilrath (or whatever similar title it is) for a quarter. I have yet to read it, having had never heard of it, but I'm excited to see someone else mention it here, and it has now jumped a few places up on my 'to read' list.

 

[finvarre]

Hi,

Its name is Kesrith It's the first volume of a trilogy, and the other titles are Shon'Jir and Kutath. Quite a few people here have read it, check out the other threads as well. It features two alien races: the warriorlike mri and the regul , and one human,Sten Duncan, thrown in the middle of the conflict between the regul, his own (that is, our own species and the mri he's befriended. As usual with Cherryh, you sympathise even more with the aliens than with humans, so beware But as I think we've reached a consensus here that she is among the very best in describing alien species and I'd really recommend that you read the book and join in the discussion here!

 

[Stalker]

I like Timbrimi in Uplift series by David Brin for their wit.

 

[GOLLUM]

Well, the Weaver certainly was alien If we dicuss fantasy non-humans, then, I'd say there's a plenty of fascinating races in Erikson. I have a soft spot for the Tiste Andii, because of Anomander Rake

Now you're talking...

Other than Paran, Anomander Rake is my fav character in that series...

 

[finvarre]

Now you're talking...

Other than Paran, Anomander Rake is my fav character in that series...

I know you like them (and now I know you like Paran better than Anomander would have been hard to choose indeed) but I didn't mention Erikson as one of my favs as I've read only The Gardens of the Moon. Shame on me BTW, I didn't think it was hard to read in the beginning, it was part of the fun to know what was going on.. hoping to read the other ones this summer.

As for the aliens, though, I have forgotten to mention the Shrike from Simmons' Hyperion. I was really fascinated by him! In the Polish translation he figured under the tender name Chyżwar .

 

[GOLLUM]

I know you like them (and now I know you like Paran better than Anomander would have been hard to choose indeed) but I didn't mention Erikson as one of my favs as I've read only The Gardens of the Moon. Shame on me BTW, I didn't think it was hard to read in the beginning, it was part of the fun to know what was going on.. hoping to read the other ones this summer.

GRRRRR.. foiled again...

Yes I'm sure you'll enjoy the later installements.

 

[Rodders]

I particularly enjoyed Greg Bears "Anvil of Stars" There was a snake like "Aggregate" species. The intelligent species (braids) were made up of lots of little animalistic Cords.

 

[AcesHigh]

the Uplift Universe is certainly VERY diverse in alien species... the Gubru are quite interesting... really... some are very intriguing (Kanteen), some are too humanoid even in their ways for my liking (as the Tymbrimi).

 

[Pyan]

I'm a fan of Cherry's kif, too, and of Julian May's Gi...