not human; alien
As the gigantic and inhuman brain was spread before them, DuQuesne and Loring read not only the language, customs, and culture of the Fenachrone, but all their plans for the future, as well as the events of the past.
In the light of present-day astronomical observations, we must admit that very few of the sun’s family members could conceivably sponsor human life. But how about inhuman life? Life especially adapted to the extremely unfavorable conditions, life that doesn’t exist as we know it.
Let me join your war against these inhuman great-heads….
He shrugged, looking out beyond the crater’s rim with his inhuman, faceted eyes, at the glittering points of light which, for a little while, seemed to keep the Big Night at bay.
Attributing all crimes of violence to the Pharigs made crime, in the public eye, equivalent to saying inhuman or alien, and destroyed the superficial glamor around crime and violence.
There was no thinking or strategy from the Hosts in those first days. I who was so used to glossing all their strangeness with special pleading—it’s some Ariekene thing, we wouldn’t understand— was aghast to become convinced that they were not indulging any inhuman strategy, but mindless addict need.
I looked up and saw Carl, life in their eyes, reaching down their massive hand to me. It didn’t seem possible that they could fit in the space. They were immense and inhuman, but at least they were familiar. I reached both hands up to them, the real one and the new opalescent. They lifted me with that one hand and put me back on the bed.
antedating 1930
Edward E. Smith, 'Skylark Three'
Last modified 2021-10-18 20:46:08
In the compilation of some
entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries
in OED.