The Prairie Dogs and the Alien
The Prairie Dogs and the Alien is character-driven, first-contact science fiction. The speculative universe behind the story rests on the assumption that humanity is not alone. The cosmos is sparsely populated with humanoid civilizations, including humans, at various stages of development. Central to this framework is the Inter-Galactic Assembly (IGA), an ancient coalition that governs the universe and operates under covenants that prohibit advanced civilizations from directly contacting or interfering with less developed planetary societies.
The novel introduces this larger universe through Rupert, an unusually intelligent and outspoken prairie dog who becomes entangled in conflicts involving environmental destruction, human politics, and extraterrestrial intervention. As the story unfolds, questions about evolution, free will, interspecies ethics, ecological stewardship, extinction, and humanity’s long-term future arise naturally, blending humor with speculative science. This speculative universe lends itself to additional standalone and companion stories linked by shared themes, overlapping cosmology, and recurring IGA involvement, rather than to direct sequels. One such companion project, tentatively titled The Cow Who Reached Out to the Cosmos, explores related themes from the perspective of a sentient feedlot cow who hopes for alien support as she confronts industrial agriculture, environmental decline, and planetary stewardship. Across these projects, the overarching thematic focus remains the intersection of science, consciousness, evolution, ethics, and humanity’s uncertain path toward joining a broader intergalactic community.
The inspiration to write The Prairie Dogs and the Alien came from a prairie dog town in Berthoud, Colorado, that I pass by regularly. One day I noticed a sign announcing that the land had been slated for commercial development. As I watched the little fellows going about their busy lives—digging, foraging, raising families, and standing sentry—I found myself wondering what they would think if they knew what was coming.
So I decided to change the narrative.
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