Talosians are an ancient race of humanoids native to planet Talos IV. Overall they are a wise and benevolent race.
They communicate telepathically and have the amazing ability to create extremely realistic illusions. The Talosian society was very technologically advanced until a nuclear holocaust destroyed most of their civilization. The surviving Talosians went to the underground and became more and more "addicted" and psychologically dependent on the illusions they created, eventually losing their ability to deal with technology. After a Human starship crash-landed on their devastated planet, Talosians planned to "breed" Humans in order to recolonize the world. Once they realized Humans do not stand captivity, the Talosians decided to free them.