The Ragnarokans are a hardened and formidable offshoot of Humans that arose from the descendants of the "Rejects" abandoned on the hostile world of Ragnarok by the Gern Empire. Left to die in an environment of crushing gravity, deadly predators, and extreme weather, the Ragnarokans not only survived but forged themselves into an unbreakable people. Over generations, they became stronger, deadlier, and more resilient than any of their oppressors could have imagined, ultimately rising to exact their vengeance upon the Gern.
Biology[]
Ragnarokans are human in origin but have undergone generations of adaptation to their brutal environment. Ragnarok's gravity, 1.5 times that of Earth, has made them physically superior to standard humans, with exceptional muscle density, endurance, and reflexes honed by constant struggle. Their bones are thicker and more resistant to injury, and their bodies have adapted to withstand the extremes of Ragnarok’s searing summers and freezing winters.
Children born on Ragnarok develop greater physical strength than offworld humans and, from a young age, must endure harsh survival training. Those who cannot endure the conditions of Ragnarok simply do not survive, leading to a naturally selected population of warriors, hunters, and tacticians. Even without advanced technology, Ragnarokans are incredibly dangerous in combat, having mastered weapons such as bows and knives to hunt the vicious predators of their world.
Culture and society[]
Ragnarokan society is shaped entirely by the need for survival. There is no room for weakness, complacency, or unnecessary cruelty. Every individual is expected to contribute, whether through hunting, building, or defending their people. While not ruled by a rigid hierarchy, leadership among Ragnarokans is based on proven ability, with those who demonstrate intelligence, strength, and tactical skill naturally rising to positions of influence. Those who fail to earn respect are not followed.
Unlike the authoritarian Gern, who relied on slavery and rigid control, the Ragnarokans built their society on trust, cooperation, and mutual struggle. Every generation is trained to fight from childhood, not just against the monstrous creatures of Ragnarok but against any future enemies that might threaten them. Their hatred for the Gern runs deep, not only because of their ancestors' suffering but because they refuse to ever be ruled or enslaved again.
Appearances[]
- Tom Godwin's Ragnarok series
- The Survivors (1958)
- Space Prison (1960 paperback re-release of The Survivors)
- The Space Barbarians (1964)