(no subject)
I spent the whole day reading science websites and planning for my science-fiction/fantasy fusion novel. I am SO proud of myself. I REALLY REALLY like this idea! And I seem to have managed to, at least in concept, avoid most of the REALLY peevish cliches. Ok, so I'm gonna have faster-than-light travel and I won't explain it very well. So sue me. If you're gonna have inter-stellar travel, you HAVE to fudge the facts. If we could conceive of something that would actually WORK, we'd have done it by now. That's how human imagination works.
The best authors can do is to draw their inspiration from the current scientific *theories*, rather than their own asses.
But I also started coming up with a plot. Way too much to type in right now, as I'm trying to get out of here, but it's there. I GOTS IT.
But probably my favorite advancement of today is the further evolution of my snake aliens, or snake-liens, as I've started calling them.
Fact 1: Their communication is primarily dance. In our cybernetic internet translation device, their words come through very slowly, and usually in broken, simplistic wording. They can communicate much more readily with the telepathic Polarins, who have explained to us that the only reason they sound simplistic is because there is so much of their language that is untranslatable.
Fact 2: They form a symbiotic relationship with an animal on their homeworld that resembles coral. It feeds upon their natural body oils, and their reproduction is facilitated by the travel of the host. In return, the snake-liens get a tough second skin that protects them from the elements and the weaponry of their natural predators. The coral-flora is also highly sensitive to fluctuations in the snake-lien endocrine system, and change color in response, thus acting as a secondary form of communication. No need to ask how a snake-lien is doing - you can tell by his coral-flora.
Fact 3: They hold themselves partly erect, with a simple hinge joint at their neck (can bend almost 360 degrees, but is most comfortable in the "front"). Below this is a "trunk", which comprises about 1/3rd of their total length and houses the most important internal organs. Below the trunk, their body divides into two tines, on which they walk. These are both strong and dexterous and as flexible as terrestrial snakes, if not moreso, as they are necessary for their complex and intricate dances. These curve behind the trunk, and off the ground again to curl back on themselves. The two ends reach past the trunk to the front of the body. Several inches from the end of their tails they have an opposable appendage that acts much as the primate thumb. The ends of their tails are prehensile.
Fact 4: They conceal/protect their sexual organs between their two tails. No, I am NOT going to include kinky snake-lien sex, but I like to know how my aliens get down. It's important to their psychology. Also, they take a very no-nonsense attitude toward sex, treating it as a biological need akin to eating. They give birth to dozens of little pus-packages that eventually coalesce into a pupa that will eventually release a baby snake-lien. These babies hatch together and protect each other until they reach adolescence, and begin to secrete the kinds of oils that attract the coral-flora. In primitive society, they went their separate ways after that, but these days siblings form strong bonds. The formation of sibling-groups was one of the primary contributing factors to social development.
I am SO happy with these guys!! I drew a picture. Preliminary sketch. Squee!!
The best authors can do is to draw their inspiration from the current scientific *theories*, rather than their own asses.
But I also started coming up with a plot. Way too much to type in right now, as I'm trying to get out of here, but it's there. I GOTS IT.
But probably my favorite advancement of today is the further evolution of my snake aliens, or snake-liens, as I've started calling them.
Fact 1: Their communication is primarily dance. In our cybernetic internet translation device, their words come through very slowly, and usually in broken, simplistic wording. They can communicate much more readily with the telepathic Polarins, who have explained to us that the only reason they sound simplistic is because there is so much of their language that is untranslatable.
Fact 2: They form a symbiotic relationship with an animal on their homeworld that resembles coral. It feeds upon their natural body oils, and their reproduction is facilitated by the travel of the host. In return, the snake-liens get a tough second skin that protects them from the elements and the weaponry of their natural predators. The coral-flora is also highly sensitive to fluctuations in the snake-lien endocrine system, and change color in response, thus acting as a secondary form of communication. No need to ask how a snake-lien is doing - you can tell by his coral-flora.
Fact 3: They hold themselves partly erect, with a simple hinge joint at their neck (can bend almost 360 degrees, but is most comfortable in the "front"). Below this is a "trunk", which comprises about 1/3rd of their total length and houses the most important internal organs. Below the trunk, their body divides into two tines, on which they walk. These are both strong and dexterous and as flexible as terrestrial snakes, if not moreso, as they are necessary for their complex and intricate dances. These curve behind the trunk, and off the ground again to curl back on themselves. The two ends reach past the trunk to the front of the body. Several inches from the end of their tails they have an opposable appendage that acts much as the primate thumb. The ends of their tails are prehensile.
Fact 4: They conceal/protect their sexual organs between their two tails. No, I am NOT going to include kinky snake-lien sex, but I like to know how my aliens get down. It's important to their psychology. Also, they take a very no-nonsense attitude toward sex, treating it as a biological need akin to eating. They give birth to dozens of little pus-packages that eventually coalesce into a pupa that will eventually release a baby snake-lien. These babies hatch together and protect each other until they reach adolescence, and begin to secrete the kinds of oils that attract the coral-flora. In primitive society, they went their separate ways after that, but these days siblings form strong bonds. The formation of sibling-groups was one of the primary contributing factors to social development.
I am SO happy with these guys!! I drew a picture. Preliminary sketch. Squee!!