Alien Nation attempted to explore the theme that non-human beings can teach the human variety a thing or two, but foundered perhaps because it literally hit a little too close to home. It's no stretch to substitute earthbound illegal immigrants for Newcomers from space. The underlying message of not judging others solely by their appearances or differences becomes much tougher for many to embrace when it's set in their backyards. Human audiences prefer aliens in a non-earth setting because they are safer and easier to accept when they do not send their kids to our schools or look us in the eyes.

Then there is the alien as mentor. The Green Stone of Healing™ speculative fiction series attempts to portray an alien more as a friend and advisor than as savior, threat, or even simply a nouveau earth-dweller. This alien is capable of appearing in physical form and dissolving at will, offering counsel and options to the series' four generations of female protagonists. He never tries to solve their problems or protect them from themselves, however. Perhaps that's what makes this alien truly unfathomable: he doesn't suffer from that all too human tendency to want power over others to control them or to meddle in their affairs. Strange indeed.

While many regard aliens as real and others as simply a metaphorical device for fictional exploration of human issues, one thing is clear. As long as we human beings have problems, we will need aliens-make believe or otherwise-to help us sort through our difficulties.

(Under the byline C.L. Talmadge, Candace is the author of the Green Stone of Healing™ epic fantasy series, www.greenstoneofhealing.com. The Vision-Book One is available online or by order through bookstores and Fallout-Book Two is pending from Quiet Storm Publishing.)