The extra-terrestrial has become a familiar archetype in the twentieth century. Yet the pre-history of extra-terrestrial literature before the twentieth century spans at least one thousand, eight hundred and twenty five years. Just how did these early examples deal with the architecture of other worlds? What kind of architecture is portrayed? Is architecture pushed to the limits in these alien narratives? Is it different to the architecture of Earth or is it the same?

Unlimited potential exists to imagine extra-terrestrial beings of any aspect. Theoretically it follows that unlimited potential also exists to imagine architecture of any aspect. But to allow an intelligible interpretation of the species presented and to facilitate any translation of meaning, the physical depiction of the alien and its milieu must be readable. This thesis looks at the notion that architecture is one of the means by which an alien species is defined and made comprehensible. That architecture is a tool for understanding, proposing that architecture is one of the means by which the character of an alien species is read. That architecture is used to further the believability of a story or to extend a narrative beyond the known into the unfamiliar. That architecture is almost universally used to reveal the presence of intelligent life on other planets.

This thesis also looks at the changes that occurred within the depiction of extra-terrestrial architecture prior to the twentieth century, building to the portrayal of complex societies. It is based on textual research, using examples of alien architecture from literature predating the twentieth century, focusing on examples within western civilisation. Thus this thesis also represents a survey of pre twentieth century extra-terrestrial architecture. By looking at the antecedents of twentieth century science fiction it can be argued that a richer and deeper understanding of later works is made possible. This thesis then forms a prequel to the study of alien architecture in the twentieth century and beyond.