Latest version of my essay on Sci-Fi Alien Archetypes

[Spanky The Dolphin]

I wouldn't personally consider the Juraians from Tenchi Muyo! to fall under the category of "Mysterious Star Gods". Such seems extremely odd to me.

I vaguely recall someone suggesting that the Juraians were Mysterious Star-Gods.

Well they're not.

The Jurai Empire was established about 150,000 years ago. Before they were a group of space pirates, but the Jurai Royal Family began after they came into contact with the Royal Space Trees that originated from the Goddess Tsunami.

Juraians and Humans are the exact same species, and Earth is just a colony world inside Jurai territory. Quite a few world leaders also secretly maintain contact with the Jurai, as well, keeping them up to date on the goings on of Earth. So they really aren't that mysterious.

Technology-wise, other than the bonus stuff they get from the Trees and Tsunami, the Jurai aren't really very far above the rest of the Universe. For one, the Galaxy Police seem to share a lot of similar technology, such as their uses of subspace.

In my opinion, the Jurai aren't very mysterious, nor have they ever portrayed themselves as gods. They're just a really powerful and influential empire.

[SecondStorm]

Nice loong list.

An addition to The Obedient Tough-Guy Henchmen stereotype: Jaffa. How could you forget those ?

Wouldnt Space Marines be both The Obedient Tough-Guy Henchmen and Proud Warrior Thugs?

[Peregrin Toker]

The Obedient Tough-Guy Henchmen: Space marines from WH40K

Actually, they are genetically modified humans.

(various details about the Juraians

Sounds more similar to Angelic Space Brothers than Mysterious Star-Gods.

Yeah but for the most part there a nice bunch.. I don't really recall any incidents like you get from the USSR

I assume you by "they're" are referring to the Tau - and while they might seem nice, it's possible that they just keep all their atrocities secret, like the Soviet Union did during the 1940s and early 1950s.

[Bob McDob]

What would the Arilou(laleelay) from Star Control fall under? They resemble the Grays, but they're almost a perfect ringer otherwise for the ASBs.

[Vendetta]

Do B5's Centauri count as Hentai Tentacle Demons?

I'm sure some of them must have found employment in the world's more.... adventurous porn industries...

Though they were more designed to fit an archetype you seem to have forgotten, Rome in Space, being one of many roman empire derived societies (ref: Galactic republic, Azad, Romulans)

[2000AD]

The Obedient Tough-Guy Henchmen: Space marines from WH40K

Actually, they are genetically modified humans.

Yes i know that, fact is they aren't really human anymore. They've got 2 hearts, 3 lungs, a whole bunch of new organs, can spit acid, etc, etc and they definately fit the toughguy henchman part.

[StarshipTitanic]

Do B5's Centauri count as Hentai Tentacle Demons?

I'm sure some of them must have found employment in the world's more.... adventurous porn industries...

Though they were more designed to fit an archetype you seem to have forgotten, Rome in Space, being one of many roman empire derived societies (ref: Galactic republic, Azad, Romulans)

The Cylons would fit into a Rome in Space category, too.

[SylasGaunt]

I assume you by "they're" are referring to the Tau - and while they might seem nice, it's possible that they just keep all their atrocities secret, like the Soviet Union did during the 1940s and early 1950s.

Possibly but then we're never given any reason to think the Tau have commited any such atrocities. Particularly considering their distaste for the Imperium's behavior.

[Stormbringer]

Do B5's Centauri count as Hentai Tentacle Demons?

I'm sure some of them must have found employment in the world's more.... adventurous porn industries...

Though they were more designed to fit an archetype you seem to have forgotten, Rome in Space, being one of many roman empire derived societies (ref: Galactic republic, Azad, Romulans)

The Centuari do fit Roman, but only in the declining, infighting empire. That's an archetype in and of it self but there's really nothing definitively Roman about the Centuari. In fac their goverment seems more like that of Britian.

[Stormbringer]

Not necessarily aliens but the:

Civilization Rewound would be a category to consider. Essentially a social carbon copy of a Earth civilization on other planet or time. They tend to adopt or adapt that of an Earth civilization (or an aspect of one) down to the core regardless of their previous society. Good examples would be Manticore and Haven (Honorverse), any number of Trek civilizations of the week in TOS, the X-file aliens (Crusade).

[CDiehl]

I would place the Centauri into a different category, called Alien Intriguers. This is the archetype of aliens whose leadership is embroiled in constant power struggles. Somehow, their societies stay together in spite of the hatred their leaders have for each other. Many of these are former empires in decline, so they resemble the Rome in Space archetype. Some other examples are the Visitors from V (also a race of reptiles), the futuristic humans of the Imperium in Dune, and many of the enemy races from Star Trek, such as the Klingons, Romulans and Cardassians.

[Peregrin Toker]

Though they were more designed to fit an archetype you seem to have forgotten, Rome in Space, being one of many roman empire derived societies (ref: Galactic republic, Azad, Romulans)

Isn't this to some extent related to the Space Nazis?

[Peregrin Toker]

Also, do some of the various factions from "Orion's Arm" qualify as alien archetypes, even though most of them aren't completely alien in origin??

To me, the Five Morph seem to be able to be shoehorned into the Proud Warrior Thug archetype. And the Laylaroncould be Interstellar Capitalists.

The Zeon are definately Mean Mechanical Monkeyjumpers, that's for sure!

[Spanky The Dolphin]

The Zeon are definately Mean Mechanical Monkeyjumpers, that's for sure!

Got "Cannot find server," but I'll assume you're refering to the Principality of Zeon (and possibly the Zeon remnant forces of Axis, both Neo Zeon movements, and the Oldsmobile Army).

The Zeon weren't aliens, they're humans, who lived in the closed-type Island III space colonies of Side 3 at Lagrange Point One.

They weren't out to destroy all life, but to force the Earth Federation into defeat or surrender.

[Vendetta]

The Centuari do fit Roman, but only in the declining, infighting empire. That's an archetype in and of it self but there's really nothing definitively Roman about the Centuari. In fac their goverment seems more like that of Britian.

They were specifically designed in their political structure, and even some customs, to mirror the Roman empire. (their "hands of freindship" thing is a roman greeting, which was basically checking the other person for a knife in his sleeves)

They have the same Emperor/Senate structure, wealth and political power are tied closely together.

Straczynski says in his commentaries, and when he was active on newsgroups about B5, that the Roman empire was his model for the Centauri.

Isn't this to some extent related to the Space Nazis?

Imperialism isn't always linked to Totalitarianism. The Centauri weren't a politically totalitarian society, they were an extremely stratified one, but there wasn't a single point of party diktat, the emperor, centarum, and various individuals within it were constantly shifting in power and influence (most notably, the struggle between Refa and Mollari).

The "Space Nazi" model reads more like political totalitarianism, which involves suppression of individual will, dissent, and all the rest, whereas Imperialism is mainly about aggrandizing your own society at the extent of others, whilst still allowing considerable individual freedom to those on "our side". Clark's regime is Totalitarian (deliberately, and with appropriate Orwell references), the Centauri are just Imperialist.

[white_rabbit]

I assume you by "they're" are referring to the Tau - and while they might seem nice, it's possible that they just keep all their atrocities secret, like the Soviet Union did during the 1940s and early 1950s.

Possibly but then we're never given any reason to think the Tau have commited any such atrocities. Particularly considering their distaste for the Imperium's behavior.

I wouldnt be so sure, As I recall in Kill Team, they are given a rundown on how the Tau expand sometimes, they show up with a space fleet, then ask nicely if you want to join the Tau Empire, if you say yes, you basically become a vassal state, well treated and protected, but an inferior partner.

You say no, then they basically seem to pick a fight, one way or another, "with their soldiers dead and rotting in the field, most say yes"

While this is from the perspective of the imperium, who wouldnt say a good thing about an alien if it saved their life, its worth considering. Especially with the rest of the tau fluff.

The state owns and administers all property, Tau society is organised by strict caste rules, the state controls all breeding, assigning individual tau to breed as and when it is deemed neccessary.

The Tau propaganda machine is smooth, practised and constantly working, Firewarrior indicates that pro-Tau propaganda dominates their media, and their journalists are just as good as any earth group at promoting "heros of the state" and working in subtle messages about the "greater good"

Not to mention pretending things like Titans don't exist, that the Imperials can't actually fight worth a damn, concealing the fact that if the Imperium wasnt busy fighting what amounts to 2 massive extra-galactic invasions almost constantly (chaos and tyranids) as well as everything else, a Crusade on the scale of the Sabbat worlds Crusade would be grinding its way through Tau space.


And they certainly have little compunction about terminating other races, IIRC they have cleansed ork infested worlds from orbit, just as ruthlessly as the Imperium.

Particularly considering their distaste for the Imperium's behavior.

I think their distaste for the Imperium is more to do with their own propaganda machine encouraging disdain for other races, and the inherent superiority of the taus doctrine of the Greater Good.

[SylasGaunt]

You say no, then they basically seem to pick a fight, one way or another, "with their soldiers dead and rotting in the field, most say yes"

True but hammering the other guys military flat isn't really the sort of soviet-style atrocities I had in mind. They're expansionistic but that never something I denied.

The state owns and administers all property, Tau society is organised by strict caste rules, the state controls all breeding, assigning individual tau to breed as and when it is deemed neccessary.

Yep.. commies through and through.

The Tau propaganda machine is smooth, practised and constantly working, Firewarrior indicates that pro-Tau propaganda dominates their media, and their journalists are just as good as any earth group at promoting "heros of the state" and working in subtle messages about the "greater good"

Yeah but a good propoganda machine does not a space nazi make.

Not to mention pretending things like Titans don't exist,

That would be kinda hard to cover up. There's got to be plenty of Tau troopers who know about the things.

that the Imperials can't actually fight worth a damn,

Where'd that come up? The briefings in the training area in Firewarrior made sure to let Kais eknow the Imperium was superstitious as all hell (which they are) and that a lot of their gear isn't as good as Tau stuff (which it usually isn't) as I recall.

concealing the fact that if the Imperium wasnt busy fighting what amounts to 2 massive extra-galactic invasions almost constantly (chaos and tyranids) as well as everything else, a Crusade on the scale of the Sabbat worlds Crusade would be grinding its way through Tau space.

Where'd that one come from?

And they certainly have little compunction about terminating other races, IIRC they have cleansed ork infested worlds from orbit, just as ruthlessly as the Imperium.

IIRC the reason for which is because you can't negotiate with Orks. The only way to stop them is to kill them or route them and orbital bombardment works wonders as a force multiplier (and keeps your own troops out of danger). Orks and Tyranids would be OB targets for pretty much anyone who'd survived the mistake of trying to negotiate with them.

I think their distaste for the Imperium is more to do with their own propaganda machine encouraging disdain for other races, and the inherent superiority of the taus doctrine of the Greater Good.

Which would again fit with the whole space commie thing.

[Stormbringer]

They were specifically designed in their political structure, and even some customs, to mirror the Roman empire. (their "hands of freindship" thing is a roman greeting, which was basically checking the other person for a knife in his sleeves)

So he lifted a bit here and there from Rome, so?

They have the same Emperor/Senate structure, wealth and political power are tied closely together.

Actually, ignoring titles it's basically the British Parlimentary system. It doesn't resemble the Roman Imperial very much.

And wealth and political power are tied closely is just about every society.

Straczynski says in his commentaries, and when he was active on newsgroups about B5, that the Roman empire was his model for the Centauri.

I know his commentaries, I've read them. But that doesn't change the fact that they are not really that close to the Romans. A few customs and surface similiarity but nothing terribly profound.

[Tasoth]

Don't the Tau fit the mold of Socialists more then Communists? There is only one class in Communism, the Workers, or so it supposed to go where there is definitely differing classes in a Socialist society.

[Peregrin Toker]

The Zeon are definately Mean Mechanical Monkeyjumpers, that's for sure!

Got "Cannot find server," but I'll assume you're refering to the Principality of Zeon (and possibly the Zeon remnant forces of Axis, both Neo Zeon movements, and the Oldsmobile Army).

The Zeon weren't aliens, they're humans, who lived in the closed-type Island III space colonies of Side 3 at Lagrange Point One.

They weren't out to destroy all life, but to force the Earth Federation into defeat or surrender.

I'm not talking of the Zeon Principality from Gundam. In the "Orion's Arm" roleplaying setting there's another faction called the Zeon. (Apparently, there's some Gundam fans among the designers of "Orion's Arm")

IIRC, the Zeon of OA are some military robots which have rebelled.

[NecronLord]

Not to mention pretending things like Titans don't exist,

That would be kinda hard to cover up. There's got to be plenty of Tau troopers who know about the things.

No. Only Kais has seen one, and even then it was inactive, and he makes clear that the water caste say it's a myth. The crusade aimed at the Tau was an utter runt of a crusade.

[SylasGaunt]

There were titans used out in the Damocles crusade so unless every Tau trooper who ever faced one (including the air caste pilots controlling the Mantas) died in action someone knows.

[NecronLord]

There were titans used out in the Damocles crusade so unless every Tau trooper who ever faced one (including the air caste pilots controlling the Mantas) died in action someone knows.

Contradicted by a novel. They were therefore taken to the Dal'yth prime Ministry of Truth and deprogrammed, ot they all died. And they were rumoured, however the Water Caste claims they're CGI.

[Vendetta]

Actually, ignoring titles it's basically the British Parlimentary system. It doesn't resemble the Roman Imperial very much.

Whereasit's use of a single hereditary assembly, and the connection between family reputation, wealth, and influence, all under an Emperor, match far closer the Senate of imperial role. The Centarum fills the same role, has the same power structures, and the same personal alliances forem political policy...

In Britain's Parliamentary democracy, policy is formed, and was even in the days of Empire, by the lower, elected house. Nothing at all like the Centauri.

[Kuja]

3. Evil Insects From Outer Space. Aside from the SGAs, one of the most common archetypes and also one of the most evil. The name says about everything about them. By the way, most of them use organic technology. Examples: The Tyranids (Warhammer 40K), the Bugs (Starship Troopers), Species 8472 (ST: Voyager), The Geonosians (SW: AoTC), the Nephilim (Wing Commander: Prophecy), the Xenomorphs (Alien), the Spiders from "Lost In Space", the cockroaches from "Men In Black", the Zerg (Starcraft).

The Vratix from SW probably also fit into this category.

4. Little Green Men. Often regarded as the precursors to the SGAs. They're small, green and (vaguely) humanoid, although they don't have to resemble SGAs exactly. Often found in 1930s and 1950s pulp sci-fi. And usually, they're not as evil nor as ugly. Examples: The Saucer-Men (Invasion Of The Saucer-Men) and the Grots (Warhammer 40K).

How can you forget Uncle Martin from My Favorite Martian?

7. Mean Mechanical Monkeyjumpers. (MMMs) They're robots and cyborgs and hell-bent on destroying humanity or, in some cases, all organic life. An interesting twist are the Yuuzhan Vong, who are the MMM archetype turned upside down - instead of being mechanical lifeforms with a hatred for organic life, they are organic beings with a hatred for everything mechanical. (although they don't belong in this category) Examples of MMMs are: The Cylons (Battlestar Galactica), the Borg (ST), the Cybermen (Dr. Who), Kronos (Kronos), the Decepticons (Transformers), the Necrons (Warhammer 40K) and the Venusian Robots. (Target Earth)

DALEKS!

8. Space Nazis. Either seen as fifth columnists operating with criminal gangs to prepare the way for invasion or your bog-standard Goose Steppers from the Vast Beyond, all of whom get their marching orders from the Great Leader. Sometimes seen in uniforms, sometimes in body-leotards with stocking hoods. Very common to Republic serials and the Japanese Starman series. Examples: the Dominion (DS9), the Azadians (Culture novel "Player of Games"), the Tau (Warhammer 40K), the Taiidani (Homeworld), the Puttiorans (Canopus In Argos), the Moon-Men (Commando Cody), the Officians (Rocky Jones: Space Ranger), the Zimarians (Evil Brain From Outer Space) and the Ko-Dan (The Last Starfighter).

The Covenant from Halo would also belong here.

9. Red Menace From Outer Space. Infiltrating Earth by stealth and subverting human civilisation from within; can either be humanoid, a totally alien lifeform which "replaces" normal humans with pod duplicates - or something even weirder (eg. shapeshifters). These were most alien menaces seen in '50s scifi movies at the height of the McCarthyite paranoia sweeping America then. Ubiquitous to American films, this stereotype is virtually unknown in foreign SF of the period. Examples: The Yeerks (Animorphs), the Bodysnatchers (Invasion of the Bodysnatchers), the Venusian Turnip Monster (It Conquered The World), the Genestealer Hybrids (Warhammer 40K), The Mi-Go (Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos), The Others (The Night The Heads Came) and the Beast. (Homeworld Cataclysm)

The Flood from Halo would fit in this one.

14. The Just Stupid Aliens. Well the name says it all. Aliens that are so stupid that one wonders how they ever got in to space in the first place (they might have gotten help). Examples: Pakled (ST), Gamorreans (SW), Thermians (Galaxy Quest).

15. The Obedient Tough-Guy Henchmen. A variant of the Proud Warrior Thugs. They're always affliated with Space Nazis, often serve said Space Nazis blindly, act as their soldiers, and they have often been genetically engineered by the Space Nazis for their purpose. Examples: The Jem'hadar (DS9), the Kroot (Warhammer 40K), the Turanic Raiders (Homeworld), the Taxxons and Hork-Bajirs (Animorphs).

I think you should move the Gamorreans from 14 to 15, since that's how they're seen in the films.

18. Uncaring aliens. This arch-type does not get itself involved with anyone else, and could personally care less about everybody else, unless they happen to get annoying. Usually, they also fit into some other archetype as well. (Usually the Angelic Space-Brother archetype) The most extreme example of Uncaring Aliens has to be the Kaminoans (SW:AOTC), who had nothing against all records of their homeworld being erased from the Jedi Archives.

The Sharu from SW are the perfect example of these.

22. Reptilloids. (thank David Icke for the name) Anthropomorphized lizards or other reptilia, usually their behaviour is more alien than their appearance. Sometimes downright evil. Examples: The Trandoshans (Star Wars), the Ssi-Ruu (Truce At Bakura), the Slann (Warhammer 40K), the Cardassians (ST), the Voth (Star Trek Voyager), Sarris' henchmen (Galaxy Quest), Grig (The Last Starfighter) the Serpent-Folk (The Cthulhu Mythos) and the Cobra-La (GI Joe: The Movie).

I can't believe you didn't include the Gorn.