Introduction
Enrico Fermi first postulated the Fermi Paradox with some colleagues over lunch. Enrico pondered why another civilization in our massive universe had yet to be discovered. Simply put, the Fermi Paradox questions, "Where are all the aliens?" Mathematically, other civilizations should have popped up in the universe, yet we have yet to meet an extraterrestrial life form. This paradox has extrapolated worldwide into the realms of science, philosophy, and fiction.
Science fiction authors often explore proposed solutions to the Fermi Paradox within their stories. Do we have the capability to contact an alien species? Are aliens hiding from us, or have they been here all along? Will contacting aliens lead us to our demise?
Here are a few of my favorite science fiction novels that explore solutions for the Fermi paradox.
***SPOILER ALERT - PRESS REDACTED TEXT TO SEE SPOILERS***
Dark Forest Hypothesis
The Dark Forest Hypothesis is one of the most frightening solutions to the Fermi Paradox. It is the suspicion that many alien species inhabit the universe. However, they are quiet, lurking, and listening for a species to decimate or a planet to colonize.
Just imagine an alien civilization is developing on a planet. Then, they make technological advancements and attempt to broadcast messages into space. A more advanced alien government picks up on the signals, and with the press of a button, they annihilate the newfound planet. This scenario leaves the cosmos empty, quiet, and full of predators.
Cixin Liu's Remembrance of Earth's Past series explores this concept extensively. (click redacted text to see spoilers) In the series' first book, The Three-Body Problem, a Chinese worker, Ye Wenjie, receives a message from the planet Trisolaris. It is a warning not to send another message. The alien worker warns Ye that the Trisolarans will find her planet and take over. Jaded by her life as an enslaved Chinese person, she sends a response back to Trisolaris. She single-handedly attempted to doom all of humanity. Ye Wenjie changed the fate of humankind for eternity.
The series is impressive simply for the sheer magnitude with which Cixin Liu wrote it. By the end of the series, Liu writes a story that covers the destruction and rebirth of the entire universe. I cannot recommend this series enough!
Remembrance of Earth's Past Box Set
Zoo Hypothesis
The zoo hypothesis is a more optimistic approach to answering the Fermi paradox. This hypothesis states that alien life may intentionally avoid Earth for one reason or another. It may be in the alien civilizations' best interest to keep their distance from other advanced civilizations. Maybe these other civilizations do not intend to destroy others but rather learn from them, avoiding self-destruction in the process of doing so.
The Rendevous with Rama four-book series does a great job of depicting why aliens would want to avoid humans. Rather than focusing on the threats of a major enemy, the book series focuses more on the human condition. In the final book of the series, Rama Revealed, all xenophobic humans are segregated from the other humans and exiled. The humans allowed to stay at the Node receive the opportunity to look at the alien knowledge before the end of their lives. It's an excellent read for someone who believes in intergalactic peace!
Rama Four Book Set
Berserker Hypothesis
Also known as the deadly probes scenario, this hypothesis suggests that Von Neumann probes, drones that can self-replicate, have been wreaking havoc on the universe, thus leaving an empty cosmos. The hypothesis is named after a book series by Fred Saberhagen, The Berserker series. The collection revolves around bloodthirsty, self-replicating machines and humanity's mission to defeat them.
In the book, the reader learns that the machines, Berserkers, were created in a genocidal war between two alien species. The Builders, the creators of the Berserkers, created these self-replicating robots to commit genocide on the Red Race. What resulted was the drones wiping out both the Red Race and their creators, the Builders.
The Berserker series certainly leaves one wondering about the implications of robot development on Earth. Fred Saberhagen’s take on the dangers of artificial intelligence brings to light some awful possibilities.
Berserker Hardcover, Book 1
Aliens may be Incomprehensible
This idea suggests that aliens may be incomprehensible to our senses. They may be so wildly different from us that we cannot perceive them at all. An alien's perception of time, plane of existence, and form could differ significantly from what we have collectively imagined. The universe may be empty because aliens' forms are unfathomable to humans.
A great short story that explores this idea is Story of Your Life by Ted Chiang. In this story, the aliens, nicknamed “heptapods,” have a wildly different physical form. However, what drives the story is the heptapods language. As the main character begins to understand the heptapod speech and writing, her perception of time changes. Interestingly, near the end of the story, the heptapods leave without explanation. Story of Your Life challenges the stereotypical alien by depicting creatures that communicate, appear, and think far differently than expected.
Story of Your Life and Others Paperback
Aliens may be in Plain Sight
The idea is that aliens have already arrived on Earth but choose to stay hidden. This idea has been widely explored in popular media, with writers often using this trope in comedy and detective stories.
Ironically, the final book in this article is written from the perspective of an alien. Aliens About Humans: The Undercover Alien’s Handbook on Successful Infiltration by Michael Sender uses the perspective of an alien to ironically and satirically insult human anatomies, behaviors, and constructs. All the while guiding future aliens to blend into our homosapien society.
Aliens About Humans: The Undercover Alien's Handbook on Successful Infiltration - Hardcover edition
Conclusion
This has been five of my favorite science fiction stories that explore solutions to the Fermi Paradox. Mankind may never discover the true reason that the perceived universe is empty, but the speculations of the scientific, philosophical, and psychological communities will continue to excite me.
Till next time. Bye now.