Character Profile: Aldi

Gender: Male

Species: Klyvian

Birthplace: Onboard a spacecraft bound for Earth from the planet Klyv.

Age: Unknown

Height: 7’2″ (2001) / 6’6″ (2016)

Languages: Klyvian, English

Appearances: “They Came, They Saw, They Stayed for Supper” (short-story); The Prospero Project (novel); The Polar Bear Lodge (unfinished novel); BLACKWELL: The Encounter Begins (published novel); Defying Gravity: Blackwell 2 (published novel)

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I met Aldi in 2001 on a lonely stretch of highway in Wyoming. I thought he and the others were Russians, but it turned out they were extraterrestrial explorers from the planet Klyv. They came here for the same reason we humans search the heavens – curiosity and the hope of finding life beyond their own home world. It turns out we are the aliens they were sent to find.

The thing I noticed about Aldi, other than his height, was his smile. Now you don’t think of aliens as being big smilers, but Aldi is. He smiles all the time. And it’s not a fake smile either. It’s just an outward manifestation of his character. Aldi is the most content and happy person I’ve ever met. Again, not what you’d expect in an alien. But that’s just the thing. I no long think of Aldi as an extraterrestrial. True, he’s not human, but he is the most kind and genuinely good person I’ve ever met. He’s like a brother to me.

Aldi is also insatiably curious, especially about human behavior. He wants to meet every human he sees; sometimes with awkward consequences. He’s fascinated by human history. He’s still trying to get the hang of human humor. And he loves coffee and fast cars. But Aldi also has a keen eye about us. He is often puzzled by human inconsistency and quick to challenge deviations from what he calls “The True.” Surprisingly, Aldi’s questions and comments never come off as judgmental. Who knows? Maybe it’s that perpetual smile.

You can get to know Aldi yourself by reading his story in BLACKWELL: The Encounter Begins (2011) and Defying Gravity: Blackwell 2 (2013).

Rick Blackwell