Algolians are a sapient non-spacefaring species from the planet Algol II.
Biology[]
Members of this species are tall humanoids, with smooth silver skin covered in large epithelial cells that make them look slightly scaled. Their hands consist of a thumb and a tentacle. Their eyes have a bluish coloration and are protected by a thick translucent lens. They have no eyelids, but their pupils contract when they're sleeping. The lenses confer effective protection for their eyes, even under rain.
Algolian breathing produces a peculiar sound that is similar to the sound of sea waves.
Life cycle[]
Algolians are a dioecious species and are born from large silvery eggs with blue veins. When the cold season approaches, the females lay eggs, which are subsequently buried in the green sand. After that, all adults jump off the cliffs into the sea to die, although this appears to be a cultural rather than instinctive behaviour. Given that no adults remain behind to care for the children, it is presumed that Algolian hatchlings are perfectly able to survive on their own. The fact that they can read the writing on the Temple walls (which instruct the new generations of children about how to hunt, weave, prepare food, etc.) suggests that they might have some kind of hereditary memory.
Culture and society[]
Algolians used to be a very advanced civilization, with technology capable of altering the face of their planet. At some point, however, they abandoned most of it in favor of a simpler existence.
Modern Algolians live in tents, hunt animals with spears, and carve furniture and objects out of stone. Even the bowls they use to carry food and drinks are stone-made. They have no personal belongings: even their garments belong to the community. Every morning, Algolians handle their clothes to the washers and pick up a clean set of clothes to begin the day. They don't wear any kind of decoration or ornaments and have no pouches, sacks, purses or anything else to carry objects with them.
When the cold season approaches, Algolians bury their eggs in sand within the Temple: a square, perfectly polished stone building with internal walls covered in writings that will teach the new generations everything they need to know about the world, how to built tents, hunt, prepare food, and so on.
Appearances[]
- "Of All Possible Worlds", by Rosel G. Brown (1961)
Notes[]
- The name "Algolians" is not used in the story, but is instead derived from their homeworld, Algol II.