Have you ever seen the film Avatar? (If not what planet were you on?) Did you spot the human characters all the time referred to the aliens and themselves as a race? Pay attention to how science fiction writers plus scriptwriters refer to aliens. It would appear that the greater part refer to alien races. Check out Startrek for a case in point the phrase ‘human or alien race’ is common and extensively used.
So… are they wrong? I think so. Race to me means an infinitesimal genetic differentiation. No other than the difference between blue or brown eyes, black or blond hair. The rule would seem to be us as humans consist of dissimilar races where the only distinction is skin colour or facial features. We are all genetically compatible, the same family or species.
Aliens would not be genetically compatible with us. They would have evolved on a different planet along with surroundings for that reason an alien would definitely be a distinctive species?
Be cautious while you are writing so as not to fall into the frequent trap of having your aliens as a dissimilar race.
If we pursue what seems to be the generally held SciFi writers rule then Whales or Goldfinches are a separate race whilst they are in reality a separate species. Taking the argument in the direction of its rational conclusion there can be no such entity as an 'alien race' the two words are mutually exclusive. There is a school of thought that uses the term race to refer to sentient beings. This is strictly speaking incorrect. What if out there someplace between the stars is a species of sentient plants? By no stretch of the mind can they be referred to as a different race of plants compared to us.
So are the majority of Science Fiction writers therefore wrong? The error is not constrained to Sci Fi writers either. How often have you heard that you are a part of the Human Race?
If you happen to glance at one of my books please do not say to me ah ha! You've used the word race for aliens. It is a intentional piece of the plot line.
As a member of the human species what do you think?
Author Resource:
Clive Osborne Rapley is a part time author and website designer. He has two Science Fiction books
published and is writing the third. His author website is:
http://www.guardianscifi.com/
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