Saturday, October 31, 2015

First Contact Novelette


As a self-proclaimed sci-fi nerd, I dream of the day that mankind meets another traveler upon the ocean of stars. Having grown up with Star Trek, Star Wars, and various other optimistic films that showcase the everyday interactions (usually peaceful) between different species, I like to think that our first contact with an alien species will go relatively smooth. And then I think about mankind and my sense of optimism dwindles. We are largely a species defined by hate, violence, and fear; as much as we'd like to deny it.

It is with this in mind that Murray Leinster wrote First Contact in 1945 at the end of WWII. He imagines a situation where mankind has created the technology that enables him to reach the furthest reaches of space and, while cruising around the Crab Nebula, encounters a race whose technology matches its own. Rather than rush out to meet these new creatures, the captain and crew - on both ships - view this encounter with fear and mistrust. For all the hope and enlightenment that a discovery of this magnitude should represent, both crews worry over the intentions of the other. Their fear makes them consider destroying each other to protect their home worlds. Eventually they do come to an amicable agreement that allows both ships to leave in peace, but it is only through guile that this arrangement is reached.

It's telling that this story resonates so well with me in that I expect mankind to act this way. Our history is full of examples that show that we fear what we don't understand. Our species is often irrational and naive, choosing to see the world the way we want it to be rather than the way it is. Facts and objectivity are replaced with superstition and bias. Mankind is not ready yet for the responsibilities of meeting another species of people, especially if those people behave like us.

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