R
RocketGirl
Well, yes...and no. I guess it depends on what you mean by "an issue". If by "issue", you mean "problem", not so much. If by issue, you mean "item of consideration", then yes...kind of.The former: aliens being basically just another type of human with the occasional moment of 'wierd' tossed in. It's a tough issue in SF, although it can be explained off to certain degrees.
Is it an issue in your work?
I don't know how much of The Adventures of Kanira Baxter you've read, if any, but the pilot of Kanira's ship, the White Knight is an alien. Humanity has been in contact with one alien species--the Myanai--for about twenty-five years. Communications have been long established, integration between both societies is well under way; the is largely because the Myanai resisted far less than even the most enthusiastic human, thinking contact with other sentients was really, really amazing and interesting.
The Mynai have some social conventions that are certainly different from humans. If anything, they're a bit more carefree and fun-loving than humans. Their sexual politics are definitely more relaxed than humans.
Physically, okay, they're essentially bi-peds, though they still walk on all-fours. They stand upright to work or to talk, however...it makes sense if you read the comic and see it in action.
I do have a kind of evolutionary history in mind for the Myanai, what forces and conditions shaped what they've become.
Still, even I have to admit that they're not THAT alien compared to humans. It's difficult to make a major character who is both alien, yet human enough to be worth following.
In a way, I kind of make reference to this in an upcoming page: Clickie; no spoilers
I could say more, but...there are certain things essential to the plot that I have to keep close to my chest. Suffice to say, this IS something I've thought about and plan to address in more detail at some point.