Scott Douglas Jacobsen and Rick Rosner dissect Alien Earth’s “Eye Midge” (Tryptomaniacus ocellus), a plausible parasitic controller that hijacks a sheep’s eye and brain—perhaps echoing memories from a prior human host. They note a shared ecosystem with the eyeless Xenomorph, where acid-blooded “blood bugs,” parasitism, and other traits explain apex evolution. Unseen species like the Orchid/Plumbacar and a flier may broaden the biology. They argue classic sci-fi underestimates ubiquitous AI; Alien’s retro aesthetic limits networked intelligence. Compared with smartphones outrunning Trek’s tricorders, near-future authors (Stephenson, Doctorow, Stross) struggle as reality sprints ahead. Mountainhead’s AI-amplified chaos feels dated; 2040 demands extrapolation.