Humans beware!
01/09/2008 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 
A species' survival really depends on two things. The speed of propagation and making a niche in the ecology. Sometimes they can both work together, especially if you can evict or even eat your competitors. Saying that, creatures that prey on you aren't that big a problem cos its possible for a species to evade and propagate wildly to out-live the deadliest carnivore. Hello everyone
A species' survival really depends on two things. The speed of propagation and making a niche in the ecology. Sometimes they can both work together, especially if you can evict or even eat your competitors. Saying that, creatures that prey on you aren't that big a problem cos its possible for a species to evade and propagate wildly to out-live the deadliest carnivore. Oddly enough, when this thought occurred to me, it had nothing to do with the animal kingdom but that of the plant kingdom and how it acts the same way. Considering how different plants are from animals, the fact that the same rule applies means this is as much an act of nature than evolution. If this is galaxy-wide, then our real competition will only really begin when we move away from out home planet.
Landing on an alien planet, a small group of human colonists could evade the local meat-eaters or even hungry plants but the rate of propagation - that means giving birth to children in case you didn't know - could be our downfall. Man has demonstrated itself to act in a herd and an inquisitive wandering youth could end up on a local species dinner plate. Harry Harrison's 'Deathworld' novels actually covered such an option.
In Science Fiction, there has always been an awareness of being careful of cross-contamination and neutralising any possible bugs either infecting us or any alien species we meet. More recently, scientists have speculated that with radically different DNA, cross-contamination isn't likely to happen. More like two impenetrable objects just having a face-off and nothing happening.
Of course, until it happens this is just pure speculation. Evolution has shown itself a nasty habit of adapting to take on all-comers if it hangs around long enough. If that's true on Earth then a similar habit is likely to appear on any other inhabitable planet. As the invading organism without its ecology niche and not breeding fast enough, not only humans but anything organic with us could be in for some serious problems.
The reverse can also happen and the invader could be potentially stronger and wipe out the local wildlife assuming of course that it can establish a niche. Some species might well survive but it wouldn't be an indictment that all would. Fern might actually do better than fauna as plant-life can be a lot more patient and a lot more choice. We might actually depend on weeds to over-whelm alien plants under my opening criteria.
That being the case, we might well be grateful for the distance between planets. There won't be a fear of inter-galactic battles with sentient aliens but more with what inhabits the environment. Something a flyswatter or aerosol wouldn't be the answer. From all accounts, evolutionary DNA sets itself up to take on all new-comers to ensure it has its space in the universe is likely to happen whether we want it to or not. HG Wells' was probably right with the demise of the Martians in 'War Of The Worlds'. Big or small, it will be the strongest that will survive even the most peaceful or deadly alien encounter. A weak evolutionary species wouldn't have a chance.
Kinda demolishes a large chunk of Science Fiction stories if this reality holds out, doesn't it? Then again, SF is always speculative and this could be just another permutation. However, it has to be considered a problem in our reality and something to be wary of as we spread to the stars.
If it turns out to be true, it means an exploration of inhabited planets would be behind protective spacesuits. An option for colonising would be limited to uninhabited empty planets and terraforming which is a long process. If any sentient alien species out there thinks along the same terms, we would ultimately be in competition as to what we can and can't have with an option to terraform barren worlds than those that contain life. It wouldn't be a military war but the right of being there first. No gazumping as it would be too dangerous to risk letting anything into our or their bio-sphere.
It does raise another interesting problem as to where are the other alien species out there? If they cared enough would they be sending out warnings? More likely their first colonisation attempts ran into this problem and burnt their fingers or whathaveyou enough to stay within they're home star systems. Might even have enduced them to keep quiet in case it draws attention to themselves. That, of course, assumes they didn't bring the contamination home with them and been wiped out.
Still, it's only one scenario. Might not even happen. But it does need some serious consideration. Especially as we could be the evolutionary plague-carriers or victims. So rather than me rant and rave. Consider the possibilities when you set your explorers out there as it might well ensure we are very much alone.
Thank you, take care, good night, be safe and watch your space, there might be a plant ready to push you out.
Geoff Willmetts
editor: SFCrowsnest.co.uk
Observation # 1: I'm waiting for the autonomous Dalek toy who exterminates it new owner without a thought.
Observation # 2: I'll take Manhattan. Having seen some stills from next year's 'Watchmen', it is just me or does Dr. Manhattan look a little anaemic? I hope when they're going over the special effects remember that Jon Osterman's alias has a slight bluish glow about him.
A Zen thought: Thoughts are words unspoken.
Another real Zen thought but this time for potential writers: If you can express an opinion independently of others and aren't likely to bend to the masses then you might show potential as a writer.
Zen for those who are scared by all the instructions below: Many of the instructions are things you should be doing automatically if you're developing your writing skills. If you do them already then focus on the ones that you don't get right. They are there to help you as much as me to get the best writing from you. If you think you're 80% there then I'll help you get the final 20%. Trust me, I'm an editor and I can get things right.
BOOK REVIEWS
Do you love books?
Do you like curling up and reading a book?
Do you have a preference for fantasy, SF or horror? We really could do with some fantasy readers!!!
Do you find it the greatest pastime you have next to being on your computer?
Are you very vocal about what you like and don't like in what you read?
Would you like to share your thoughts with others about books?
Would you like an endless supply of books to do this with?
Do you live in the UK?
Can you spare an hour every day?
Are you finding the recession is hitting your book buying habit?
If you've been nodding your head up to this point then link in below and see if you have what it takes to be a reviewer at SFCrowsnest. If you have that special knack to read and write or want to develop said skill then the only way you're going to find out is to take the plunge yourself rather than wait for others to do it first. Reading a lot of books is a requisite for any writer. Being able to say what makes them good or bad hones your own skills. Even if you're just happy with reading with a little writing on the side then this might be for you. It's got to be better than waiting for the sun to come out in this weird summer. It's also amazing how much you can read in an hour a day.
If you've survived this far in the editorial, let me reiterate something from the website newsletter and the above editorial. As you can see from the main page, we have one of the biggest SF/fantasy/horror monthly reviews columns on the Net. Our success has increased the number of books that comes in and our policy is to read everything and give it a roadtest before giving a review so you have some idea of what you're letting yourself in for. You want the bottom line about what you're going to choose to read. That means we need people actually willing to read the book and tell others they're opinion in reviews. For that, we're always on the outlook for more reviewers.
Do you think you have what it takes to review a book? It's a skill that can be easily mastered and we need a few more. If you love fantasy, we have more than enough to keep you busy for instance.
Apart from the ability to put words into sentences, you also need to know how to précis, do a little research on associated subjects and can express opinions constructively about the good and bad points about the books you read. We even let you choose from our pile of received books rather than foster something on you that you wouldn't normally read. You'll even get a little editorial help in how to write good copy and that can always lead to other things. I'm not as scary as I sound editorially and its better to do the test review and see how you fare than not attempt to see how well you did. I did say you have to love books and willing to read beyond your favourite authors, didn't I?
If you like reading books in the genre and can average two or three a month, can really think and show you can write a decent review and, most importantly, live in the British Isles (sorry, expense, time and distance travelled mostly prohibits elsewhere), then use the link below and see our requirements. We can't pay you but a review for the price and regular supply of new books, this has to be a good incentive to see if you have what it takes.
Do you think you're up to writing a review? If you think you can, then you're really going to think you've landed your hands in the biscuit tin. It won't hurt to try and see if you have the right stuff by sending me a sample review to show me you can write. If you want an added incentive, it can also be good for your CV.
Look up the Review Guidelines by linking here: with a press of a mouse button.
SHORT STORY SLUSH PILE
We always have an interest in short stories which can be anything from one to thirty or so pages long. We're always willing to give short story writers a chance to be seen if they can withstand my scrutiny even if we can't pay for their efforts, your material will be seen by a lot of people. If you can get a short story written well then it'll make it easier to move up to novel-length.
Look up the Short Stories Link by linking here with your mouse.
FLASH OR ONE-PAGE FICTION
We've also a teaching ground of one page stories, so check out the rules elsewhere on the website. It's far too easy to just write and write and hope something good comes out of it. What writing a one page story does is test your ability to control your word count and still tell a story in a concise way. This doesn't mean we don't accept stories of different lengths - a short story can be anything up to 30-40 pages long after all - but opens up the means for really short stories from ideas that don't need as much space.
Flash fiction stories by linking here: with your mouse.
NOVEL-LENGTH SAMPLES IN THE FIRST INSTANCE
For those keeping track, I'm actually now caught up but don't tell everyone as I'm undecided as to whether to keep looking at novel-length story samples, move over specifically to short stories - which we do anyway for the website - or get a couple of my own book projects completed. The latter, I still intend to do anyway.
They are there to help you do some of the right things and reduce the number of times I'm repeating myself over silly grammatical errors and spelling mistakes that you shouldn't be making if you're serious about becoming a writer. It makes editing a lot easier if any editor has less work pointing out poor English which you should have been sorted out in the first place and more focused on other areas of your work that deal with plot and the other serious elements of storywriting. As a writer, it is your command of the English language and its grammar that will show how serious you are about writing.
There might not be much of a wait unless I get a deluge, however those sending in ebook samples, please read the Guidelines by linking here with your mouse here or through the bottom line menu on the opening page of the SFC website.
EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT WRITING BUT AFRAID TO ASK
General advice for those who want to become writers of any sort: There's an old editorial adage, if you can't aim for perfection why should an editor nurse-maid you to that state? Nominally, my job is to catch minor glitches not total mishaps. If you're a writer, then you should understand the words, sentences and grammar of the job you're supposed to be writing or are you considering it as mundane and boring as any other job to get right? Fall in love with making every sentence the best you're ever written, read up and understand the rules of grammar. Put the time in researching any subject you're using in the story. Be prepared to put a story away for a few weeks and go back to it for a self-edit. Even I do that. You look good. I make you look better but you have to start off with good.
A lot of the time, errors will just stare you in the face when you didn't see them the first time round. Once you know where your weaknesses are, they can be sorted out and allow you to move a little higher up the ladder towards making your material look its best and more importantly, getting your material seen by readers.
The link here will show you the Common Problems Link page and what I see mostly with your mouse. It's the smart writer who doesn't get caught out with these.
Good luck. Geoff |
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