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Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Question of the Week

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I've been thinking lately (a dangerous pastime, I know) about science fiction. It's one genre I haven't written much in other than a half-finished short story. Anyhow, I was thinking about different alien races.

Why do all alien races have the same five senses as humans? Why aren't some blind or deaf and have a different sense instead? Maybe I haven't read enough in the genre.

So today's question - if you could create a new sense, what would it be?
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9 comments:

  1. Cherie ReichOctober 12, 2011 at 10:58 AM

    Well, I wouldn't necessarily create a "new" sense, but I think things like ESP and such would be cool. Although I think some people already have this sixth sense.

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  2. AubrieOctober 12, 2011 at 11:21 AM

    I went from writing fantasy to sci fi, and I've had more success with sci fi.

    Good luck!

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  3. Heather HawkeOctober 12, 2011 at 12:11 PM

    Try Julie Czerneda's "Beholders Eye" - some other senses there. Also, Sheri Tepper's "Grass"

    I have a WIP where the mc's extra sense enables her to navigate among worlds (a bit Dune-like I admit, though without the spice)

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  4. Christine RainsOctober 12, 2011 at 12:56 PM

    Sci-fi does open up so many possibilities. I wrote a story a long time ago with an alien race that had five sexes and another that reproduced with their feet. (Or what the humans perceived were their feet!)

    It's hard to think of a new sense, but what about an alien race that could see in more than three dimensions? Not only could they see like we do, but they could see time progressing or something abstract like that.

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  5. Carol RiggsOctober 12, 2011 at 1:37 PM

    Maybe the sense of empathy, of "feeling" what others feel. (Or maybe that's already done, like in Battlestar Gallactica or whatever.)

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  6. Alex J. CavanaughOctober 12, 2011 at 1:54 PM

    I already did - telepathy! And a few other mental powers.

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  7. F.E. SewellOctober 12, 2011 at 7:08 PM

    This is why I love science fiction. It never ceases to raise all kinds of questions that will inevitably lead to four hour conversations.

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  8. Helen HardtOctober 12, 2011 at 10:03 PM

    Great question! I loved the empaths on Star Trek, so I guess that's the sense I'd choose -- the ability to sense the emotions of others.

    Helen
    helenhardt.blogspot.com

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  9. Vicki RochoOctober 12, 2011 at 10:18 PM

    I don't know if it counts as a sense, but I like telepathy or telekinesis...but everyone else beat me to it.

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The more comments, the better!