We like to make it so
simple. We imagine First Contact as occurring with just one alien civilization.
But what about two alien civilizations? Better yet- what about two conflicting
alien civilizations? I know- farfetched, but it’s not out of the realm of
possibility. If there is another civilization out there, then why not two, three
or four? As we know from human experience- often intelligent beings don’t get
along so well. Could humans get caught in an extraterrestrial squabble of some
sort? It would certainly make things more difficult. Not only would we have to
cope with First Contact human response issues, but also find a way to sort out
alien conflicts and decide how to proceed. It would step up the urgency of the
situation significantly, especially if the aliens were hostile with each other.
Now granted, having two competing alien civilizations announce themselves at
one time seems pretty unlikely. But if they are concerned about currying favor
and developing a relationship with humanity, conceivably the actions of one
alien civilization attempting to make contact with humans could lead to a
preemptive hello from a competing group. Why would we be so popular? Who knows?
Considering how unpopular we are right now (with no contact at all) that would depend
on alien motivations. Those motivations could be quite complex, and perhaps
beyond our understanding.
Still, it does raise an
important point. Have we considered the complexity that First Contact could
bring if there are multiple civilizations out there in contact and conflicting
with each other? It’s the scenario I explore in my new book “The Ashland City Landing”. When I started writing
the blog five years ago the primary purpose was to develop ideas for the novel
and now it’s finally done. Here’s the synopsis:
Alex Morrison has made
a new friend on the Internet. It’s a relationship that could drive his wife and
friends half-crazy and that’s if federal agents and newspaper reporters don’t
blow it wide open before the big moment. Can Alex hold it all together before The
Ashland City Landing?
The Ashland City Landing is a sometimes-funny, sometimes-serious,
science fiction novel about the practicalities of meeting space aliens and
having to save the world from itself and also perhaps those very same aliens.
Alex fights to keep his sanity, while concocting an introduction that will
change the course of human civilization. He’s being pursued by a journalist
desperate for a cover story. Alex’s best friend is a real ass and sometimes his
psychologist. Alex’s wife does her best to be the Southern belle, but that’s
not going too well. And yet he needs them both to pull it off. Along the way
Alex enlists help from a burned-out astrophysicist and meets federal agents who
are definitely not amused.
The Ashland City Landing is available in printed and
Kindle electronic format through Amazon USA, Amazon Europe affiliates and through Nook at Barnes and Noble.
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