S. R. Algernon

Extremely short, but clever and interesting story. As with all of the journal Nature's fiction offerings, it has a focus on a scientific 'what-if.' Here, that question is: "What if Earth was invaded by aliens whose biology was more similar to that of starfish than that of homo sapiens?"

The answers - and the misconceptions that they end up acting from - are horrifying, amusing, and all-too-logical.

It's also nice to see an alien invasion story from the point of view of the aliens.

The story show more is available online, here: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v519/n7544/full/519498a.html

Read due to this being a Hugo nominee. show less

Extremely short, but clever and interesting story. As with all of the journal Nature's fiction offerings, it has a focus on a scientific 'what-if.' Here, that question is: "What if Earth was invaded by aliens whose biology was more similar to that of starfish than that of homo sapiens?"

The answers - and the misconceptions that they end up acting from - are horrifying, amusing, and all-too-logical.

It's also nice to see an alien invasion story from the point of view of the aliens.

The story show more is available online, here: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v519/n7544/full/519498a.html

Read due to this being a Hugo nominee. show less

A fun little story about galactic misunderstanding and military hubris.