Novels About Aliens

I have always found it arrogant to believe that we are the only intelligent life in the universe, and beyond. These books explore the theme and details of sharing our existence with creatures from other worlds, both friend and foe. Sit down, open your mind, and explore the possibilities with these intriguing books.

The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton explores a belief that many of our scientists have that if we do discover life on other planets that life will most likely be single celled or otherwise small life forms. These forms would be similar to bacteria and viruses. In this stunning novel, which was his debut, he tells the story of such a life form brought to earth by a fallen satellite.

The Android's Dream by John Scalzi is an intergalactic satire about diplomacy between governments, in this case planetary faux pas. The main character, Harry Creek, is determined to avoid a crisis on an interstellar scale. All he needs to solve the problems others have caused is to find a rare blue breed of sheep, which will be used in an alien race's coronation ceremony. Strangely enough, the DNA match for this elusive sheep is found in a pet store owner. To further complicate matter Harry has to contend with is a sheep worshiping cult and aliens looking to guarantee the start of interstellar war.

The Grays by Whitley Strieber is a science fiction thriller based partially on the author's research and personal experiences. The experiences that Strieber claims to have had can be found in his book Communion. One married couple who each had an extraterrestrial experience as children. Their son, Conner, must face terror as he tries to understand who he has been engineered to be, and what is necessary to save humanity. The Three Thieves are the aliens that have been working for generations to achieve the combination of genes that Connor carries.

Hunter's Run by George R. R. Martin explores just what it means to be human. Ramon Espejo wakes up in uncharted mountains on the planet of Sao Paulo. He has no memories of his life. He experiences gradual and sometimes traumatic flashbacks from his past, including some violent scenes which make him realize that he is being hunted by mysterious alien overseers.

Eifelheim by Michael F. Flynn follows Tom, a modern-day historian, and his long-term girlfriend Sharon, a theoretical physicist. They are searching for the truth about the 1349 disappearance of the small German town of Eifelheim, which appears to have disappeared just as the Black Death gripped medieval Europe. they are not aware that the village priest of the day, Father Deitrich, had become the first contact between man and alien by finding a crashed space ship carrying "Krenken,", a horrifying grasshopper-like life-form.

Probability Moon by Nancy Kress is the first book in the Probability Trilogy. Earth has reached crisis level in environmental damage when ancient star gates which make interstellar travel possible are found. Earth forms colonies on other planets and discovers alien races. One of these races is the warlike Fallers, the only space traveling group other than humans. When a team of scientists is sent to study a newly discovered planet they discover an alien society where everyone agrees on the truth.

The Trouble with Aliens by Christopher Anvil shows that the best human to face with aliens that can read minds is one who knows little or nothing, of course, including why he was sent there. An investigator is hired to find the reason for strange events in a palatial mansion. He solves the case quickly, but when he wakes up he discovers that his solution was only a dream and the case is still unsolved. The Trouble with Humans by Christopher Anvil handles the flip side, alien invaders baffled when they find themselves dealing with pollution, below zero temperatures, tornadoes, earthquakes, flash floods, volcanoes, and other natural disasters as well as human belligerence and ingenuity.

Do not hate Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein because of the movie. This book is a science fiction classic that is about much more than one boy becoming a soldier and fighting vicious bug-like aliens. Society, human nature and politics are major aspects of this book, and are all handle extremely well.

Camouflage by Joe W. Haldeman is a smart and trilling novel. When an egg like unidentified artifact is found seven miles below the surface of the sea man tries to crack it open and/or communicate with it. The object defies mankind's attempts but attracts the two immortal creatures who have been wandering the Earth for hundreds of years. Those creatures coming together for the first time will decide their final fate and that of the mysterious object.

For further books featuring aliens I also recommend Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard, The Alien Invasion Survival Handbook: A Defense Manual for the Coming Extraterrestrial Apocalypse by W. H. Mumfrey, and Earth Hive (Aliens, Book 1) by Steve Perry. As always, there is no way to make a complete book list of great novels dealing with aliens. There are always more. If you have a favorite please share it in the comments so that fellow readers can check out your favorites as well.