Best Aliens
Arkady and Boris Strugatsky’s Roadside Picnic presents a stark vision of humanity's encounter with extraterrestrial visitors. The novel explores the consequences of an alien “picnic” – a brief but devastating arrival that left behind dangerous anomalies within designated ‘Zones.’ It examines themes...
Close Encounter is a recurring sketch from the NBC variety series Saturday Night Live that premiered in 2015. The sketch centers on three individuals who have been abducted by aliens, played by the guest host, a cast member, and Kate McKinnon as Colleen Rafferty. While the other abductees describe p...
Orson Scott Card’s Speaker for the Dead continues the story of Ender Wiggin decades after his military triumphs. The novel explores themes of anthropology and communication through interactions with a newly discovered alien species. It is notable for its complex characters and philosophical question...
Frederik Pohl’s *Gateway* presents a compelling narrative concerning a group of American prospectors investigating a derelict alien space station in the far reaches of explored space. Published in 1977 and lauded with numerous awards including a Hugo, the novel explores themes of isolation, resource...
Vernor Vinge’s *A Fire Upon the Deep* presents a complex science fiction narrative set across a vast, multi-layered galaxy. The novel explores concepts of advanced technology and sentient civilizations within “zones of thought” where cognitive abilities vary dramatically. It is particularly relevant...
Alien Imposters is a satirical sketch from the American sketch comedy series Key & Peele, starring Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the narrative follows a group of survivors attempting to identify extraterrestrial beings disguised as humans. The survivors realiz...
The Uplift War, a 1987 science fiction novel by David Brin, explores humanity’s complex relationship with its evolved alien neighbors, the “Pgiv.” This Hugo Award-winning work is notable for its detailed examination of interstellar diplomacy and the challenges of coexisting species. It's primarily...
The television series *3rd Rock from the Sun* presents a comedic look at Earth through the eyes of four aliens disguised as a suburban family. The show’s notable value lies in its observational humor exploring human customs and relationships. It is primarily for viewers who appreciate intelligent, g...
"Dawn" is a 1987 science fiction novel by American author Octavia E. Butler, serving as the first book in the Xenogenesis trilogy. The narrative follows Lilith Iyapo, a human survivor who awakens centuries after a devastating nuclear war on an alien spaceship. She discovers that humanity has been re...
Stranger in a Strange Land is a 1961 science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein about Valentine Michael Smith, a human raised by Martians who returns to Earth and founds a transformative religious movement. The novel popularized the term "grok" and became one of the most influential and controversi...
The Genocides is a 1965 science-fiction novel by American writer Thomas M. Disch. It portrays an Earth overwhelmed by immense alien plants that displace terrestrial agriculture and reduce the surviving human population to desperate, isolated communities. Rather than treating humanity as central to t...
*Embassytown* is a 2011 science fiction novel by British author China Miéville that deeply explores themes of linguistics, colonialism, and communication. Set on the distant planet of Arieka, the story centers on the Ariekei, an alien species whose unique language requires simultaneous spoken voices...
Elio is an upcoming animated science-fiction feature film produced by Pixar Animation Studios, scheduled for release in 2025. The plot follows an imaginative young boy named Elio who is accidentally transported across the galaxy and subsequently mistaken by a council of aliens to be the official amb...
"The Kraken Wakes" is a science fiction novel written by British author John Wyndham, first published in 1953. The narrative details a fictional alien invasion where mysterious, ocean-dwelling extraterrestrials emerge from the deep sea, attack human shipping, and deliberately melt the polar ice caps...
The Themis Files is a science fiction thriller trilogy written by Sylvain Neuvel, beginning with the 2016 novel Sleeping Giants. The narrative follows the discovery and assembly of a giant alien robot scattered across Earth, told through an epistolary format of interviews, journal entries, and class...
Adulthood Rites is a science fiction novel by Octavia E. Butler, published in 1988 as the second volume in her acclaimed Xenogenesis trilogy. The narrative follows Akin, the first male human-Oankali construct child, as he navigates the complexities of a post-apocalyptic Earth where humanity is being...
"Light from Uncommon Stars" is a 2021 science fiction novel by Ryka Aoki, published by Tor Books. The narrative weaves together the stories of a transgender violinist, a violin teacher who has made a pact with a demon, and an alien refugee running a donut shop in contemporary Los Angeles. It blends...
Imago is a 1989 science fiction novel by American author Octavia E. Butler, serving as the final installment in her Xenogenesis trilogy. The narrative continues the story of human-alien integration by centering on Jodahs, the first human-Oankali construct of the ooloi gender, who is capable of genet...
Aliens vs. Predator: Extinction is a 2003 real-time strategy game developed by Zono and published by Electronic Arts for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox home consoles. Set in the crossover science fiction universe, the game allows players to engage in tactical warfare by commanding one of three distinct...
ALF is a television sitcom created during the 1980s focusing on Willie Tanner, an average American family and ALF, a Melmacian alien who crash-lands in their home. The show’s humor stems from the fish-out-of-water dynamic as ALF struggles to adapt to human customs and relationships. It appeals prima...
God's War is a 2011 science fiction novel by Kameron Hurley. Set on the war-torn planet of Umayma, it follows Nyx, a former government assassin turned bounty hunter, in a society built on insect-based biotechnology. The novel explores themes of gender, religion, and sustained warfare.
Oblivion is a 2013 American science fiction action film directed by Joseph Kosinski, following a maintenance worker on a desolate future Earth who uncovers the truth about humanity's fate.
Probability Moon is a 2000 science fiction novel by Nancy Kress about a planet where shared reality governs society, part of her Probability trilogy.
Published in 1960 by American author Poul Anderson, this satirical science fiction novel involves medieval English knights capturing an alien ship.
Aliens Predator Customizable Card Game is a 1997 Precedence and Harper Prism CCG, notable for three sided Alien, Predator, and Marine play.
Universe at War: Earth Assault is a 2007 RTS by Petroglyph and Sega, notable for three asymmetric factions and PC-Xbox 360 cross-play.
Xenocide is a 1991 science fiction novel by Orson Scott Card, the third book in the Ender's Game series, exploring themes of philosophical conflict.
A 2004 science fiction action film directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, the first theatrical crossover to feature both the Alien and Predator franchises in a shared story.
