The CSMonitor and Guardian quote Professor Stephen Hawking... "If aliens visit us, the outcome would be much as when Columbus landed in America, which didn't turn out well for the Native Americans. [...] advanced aliens would perhaps become nomads, looking to conquer and colonise whatever planets they can reach."This scenario has been explored many times in Science Fiction, of course, but perhaps never more ironically than by Douglas Adams in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy which begins with the bureaucratic Vogons appearing one day in the sky and announcing...
"People of Earth, your attention, please. This is Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz of the Galactic Hyperspace Planning Council. As you will no doubt be aware, the plans for development of the outlying regions of the Galaxy require the building of a hyperspatial express route through your star system. And regrettably, your planet is one of those scheduled for demolition. The process will take slightly less than two of your Earth minutes. Thank you. [...] There’s no point in acting surprised about it. All the planning charts and demolition orders have been on display at your local planning department in Alpha Centauri for 50 of your Earth years, so you’ve had plenty of time to lodge any formal complaint and it’s far too late to start making a fuss about it now. […] What do you mean you’ve never been to Alpha Centauri? Oh, for heaven’s sake, mankind, it’s only four light years away, you know. I’m sorry, but if you can’t be bothered to take an interest in local affairs, that’s your own lookout. Energise the demolition beams."Anyways, here's a snippet of Into The Universe by Hawking...
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