Need help with some ideas for a science-fiction novel. What should I use?

Question

I really don't wanna give too much out, but I was wanting to write a science-fiction novel about humans finding another Earth (like a twin Earth). When they land, they find that people already live there. The people are those of ancient civilizations and empires of the Old World. They've learned to survive the treacherous environment and live peacefully with other kinds of people.

I'm having a really hard time deciding on which civilizations I should use. I would really like to only use three if I can.

I know that I definitely want to use the Ancient Chinese civilization. The Chinese have always been very interesting to me, and I'm probably not the only one to think that. Their intuitiveness, culture, and lifestyle are always intriguing to me.

I have a few other candidates for the other two I can use. I was thinking of the following:
the Aztecs: Because of their assumptions of extraterrestrials and UFOs
Greeks (Specifically Arcadians): For their very deep infrastructure and economic prosperity
the Spaniards: For their inventions and increasingly civilized lifestyle
Atlanteans: I know too little is known about them to even get anything going, but the Atlanteans are another strong choice, many because of how little we DON'T know about them. This could leave room for many kinds of cultural assumptions in a science-fiction novel. Plus, an underwater city would be pretty awesome.

These are just some of my first choices. I would like to keep it down to three kinds of people-the story would get cluttered and the number of supporting characters would be much to great.

If people can give me some of their recommendations and suggestions, that would be very much appreciated.

BTW-My sister was thinking the Greeks and the Spaniards. She thinks all of them had their own unique defining qualities that distinguished themselves from the rest. I think those are two good choices, but I'd like some other input too. Thank you.

Answer 1

This is my answer to your first question which seems to have been deleted.



Technically, there is nothing in the Bible that explicitly contradicts the possibility of people living on other planets - however, it is implied that the earth is God's gift to humanity. In general, so long as fiction is clearly labeled as fiction, it doesn't really matter how much it conforms to scripture. Though I would try to avoid the temptation to use Biblical imagery to justify your story (like chariots of fire, and ladders to heaven). That's what the author of the Da Vinci Code did - and thus misrepresented the clear intent of scripture.



If they were human, they would have to be descendants of Adam. You could have spirits (angels or demons) transporting them to other planets. Spirits aren't generally restricted by the physical laws that govern our universe - so distance isn't an issue.



Depending on how deep you wanted to get into their beliefs, they would also require the redemption offered through Christ (which was promised to Eve). That's a tricky one, because you could not have Jesus suffering twice for humanity. That said, even before Christ's sacrifice, the requirement for salvation was faith in the promised redemption of God. I suppose there could be another Patriarch figure like Abraham; or a legalistic covenant like the one offered to Israel through Moses.



Just some ideas.



I would look into the Sumerian culture. They already have pseudo-alien stories that are easy to track down. They also have a language that is unrelated to any other ancient language - so it's origins are unknown.

Answer 2

If you're using Ancient China, it makes sense to use civilizations that would have flourished along the same timeline. The earliest Chinese dynasty dates back to, what, about 2000 BC? European cultures would have come along much later - the rise of the Greek polis (or city-states) didn't happen until about 800 BC or so, and what we think of as Spanish culture didn't come along until well after that. When I think of ancient civilizations, I think of Mesopotamia & the near east, Indus Valley & the Indian subcontinent, and Egypt. If you want to bring in Europe & Greece, try the Minoans.



One of the great things about science fiction is being able to take liberties with real life; at the same time, there needs to be some grounding in fact, otherwise your readers will lose suspension of disbelief. If you want to have different civilizations becoming dominant at different times, there has to be a plausible reason for them to do so (for example, Kim Stanley Robinson does a beautiful job with this in 'The Years of Rice & Salt' - if you find Chinese and Asian cultures fascinating, this is a novel I recommend reading).



(I also highly recommend Orson Scott Card's 'How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy' - it is an *excellent* resource for world-building and structuring a work of speculative fiction.)



Best of luck!

Answer 3

Your concept is an intriguing one, and it's a good basis for an original novel.



Science fiction readers are big on accuracy. If you don't want your story to be put in the fantasy category, you'll have to do a lot of serious research. Most older civilizations were not all that peaceful. There were constant wars, mainly over territory, but sometimes over religion and differing customs. So you might want to create some terrific diplomatic structures for resolving differences, from international wars right down to neighborhood squabbles, along with believable sanctions for behavior that some people might consider heroic, but causes strife and fighting.



Did your civilizations arrive on Earth-2 by space travel of some kind, or did they evolve along a parallel track from whatever forces created human life on both Earths in the first place? Are you going to actually call them Chinese, Aztec, Greek, etc. or are they going to have different names?



And what happens when we war-hardened Earth-1 people encounter the determinedly peaceful inhabitants of Earth-2? Do we run rough-shod over them, or are their anti-violence sanctions secretly powerful enough to compel peaceful behavior from us newcomers? If so, do we struggle against it, and try to develop ways to become fighters again?



I hope your book comes to fruition. We need good new science fiction.

Answer 4

That's a great idea but I just don't understand how you can make a twin Earth work in your story. Like it would be very difficult to explain why civilization had not improved on twin Earth while it did on the real Earth (because that is impossible unless the twin Earth is only a thousand year old, but it even took the real Earth 500 million years to form) and how there is a twin Earth with the same exact civilization as the old civilization on real Earth.

Answer 5

The factor is, although any person offers you an proposal, will you be excited approximately it? You ought to positioned your self into this booklet.And what one man or woman thinks could be robust and a laugh to write down approximately could no longer be just right for you in any respect. What makes you desire to write down a booklet? Most writers say they have got reports they desire to inform. Part of writing a booklet is having that tale, developing the proposal and the plot. I'm no longer pronouncing you should not get aid for an proposal, however how lengthy have you ever spent considering on it your self thus far? It turns out like you are asking plenty, and also you could do higher to appear for recommendation on author's block exceptionally, no longer soliciting for an proposal to your booklet. What variety of technological know-how fiction do you favor? What variety of tale could you favor to look? I suppose you relatively ought to make this extra private, considering if you are no longer invested within the tale and proposal, you will not conclude. I understand all people wishes to write down the following significant factor that is on no account been performed-- however attempt to simply write the tale you desire to inform, and that you simply desire to learn. I could additionally endorse simply studying extra technological know-how fiction to get your self into the mind-set and get a believe for the present marketplace, principally books that simply got here out not too long ago. And I suspect that if any person did have a relatively robust customary proposal that had on no account been performed, they could as a rule preserve it for themselves. EDIT-- Okay, good, once more, arising with characters and their motivations is side of being the author. And my reaction nonetheless stands. You ought to suppose of your possess proposal and your possess characters. :) How is any person intended to simply supply you characters to make use of with out realizing some thing approximately your plot besides? Maybe you are having hindrance considering you are caught dwelling with the flu. I can on no account get any paintings performed whilst I'm in poor health like that.