Edenism
Encyclopedia
Edenism is a fictional group-entity culture in Peter F. Hamilton
's science fiction The Night's Dawn Trilogy
series. Distinguishing characteristics of Edenism include genetically-assigned telepathy and the use of sentient biotechnology.
s, allowing control over similarly bonded animals and living biotechnological structures called bitek (2058). In year 2069, the affinity gene was successfully engineered into human DNA
.
Bitek habitats, living constructs made of polyp (artificial coral) in which people could live, were germinated in space. The first habitat, Eden, was germinated in 2075 and people began immigration in 2085.
In 2090, as Wing-Tsit Chong was dying, he transferred his memories to Eden's memory cells, effectively beginning the Edenist culture as his ideas and philosophy were committed to memory. Through affinity, Chong was able to continue living as a non-corporeal observer inside the habitat.
In response to this non-Christian afterlife, Pope Eleanor of the Unified Christian Church excommunicated humans born with affinity engineering in 2090, claiming Chong's soul would not continue its transcendental journey due to him cheating death.
, links all Edenists together mentally. It is normally a genetically-engineered trait; Adamists may gain the affinity ability through neural injection of the symbiont. Affinity uses two modes of engagement:
Collective engagement is that between three or more affinity-enabled beings. (Personal and public affinity-use is also distinguished by these terms.) A special collective engagement called consensus enables a large group of affinity-enabled beings to form a singular representative mental entity. (See group mind
.)
; in The Night's Dawn, it is a form of sentient biotechnology used by numerous human cultures in the Confederation, most notably, Edenists.
. A habitat is a hollow body of cylindrical shape. The largest habitat (Tranquility) measures 65 kilometres in length and 18 kilometres in diameter. Due to certain constraints (see later), habitats can only exist on the orbit of a gas giant
. After germination, a habitat usually grows for around 10 years. During this period it is supervised from a small space-station in a near orbit. After the growth period it is opened for settlement. The habitat is completely genetically engineered
. It is mostly made out of Bitek Polyp (a living coral
). A habitat is completely self-supporting. Artificial gravity
is created by rotating the whole habitat around its axis. The light inside the habitat is produced by a hollow tube which spans the entire length of the habitat and is powered by high electric currents. The habitat's basic functions are digestion of interstellar material
into everything needed to support its structure and its inhabitants (during maturation the habitat usually consumes large amounts of interstellar matter) and digestion of all waste products produced by the inhabitants and the habitat itself. It only requires an external power supply
; this is achieved via conductor cables
, which grow on the outer hull of the habitat. Due to the rotation, these cables cross the electromagnetic
flux
of the nearby gas giant and thus produce electrical energy.
Communication with the habitat can be achieved via affinity or via datavise using special interfaces. Each habitat also has its own habitat personality. The habitat Eden was the first habitat germinated (by the JSKP during 2058) and is the oldest living sentient entity in the Confederation. The personality of Wing-Tsit Chong (inventor of the affinity gene and the founder of the Edenist culture) resides within the neural strate of Eden.
, the largest gas giant in the Sol system, Milky Way galaxy, is home to the largest Edenist government called the Jovian Consensus. Due to the limits of affinity each solar system colonized by Edenists has its own autonomous government. The Jovian Consensus is a true democracy
; it consists of the collective-conscience of all Edenists and sentient
bitek constructs within affinity range. Due to the nature of consensus affinity, complete representation can be established instantaneously and with minimal confusion.
Rubra, the founder of Magellanic Itg and creator of
Valisk, was a Serpent, as was the notorious mass-murderer Laton.
(3He) from gas giants. This is done by using cloud scoops.
Peter F. Hamilton
Peter F. Hamilton is a British author. He is best known for writing space opera. As of the publication of his tenth novel in 2004, his works had sold over two million copies worldwide.- Biography :...
's science fiction The Night's Dawn Trilogy
The Night's Dawn Trilogy
British author Peter F. Hamilton's The Night's Dawn Trilogy consists of three science fiction novels: The Reality Dysfunction , The Neutronium Alchemist , and The Naked God...
series. Distinguishing characteristics of Edenism include genetically-assigned telepathy and the use of sentient biotechnology.
Background
A biotechnologist named Wing-Tsit Chong developed affinity symbiont neuronNeuron
A neuron is an electrically excitable cell that processes and transmits information by electrical and chemical signaling. Chemical signaling occurs via synapses, specialized connections with other cells. Neurons connect to each other to form networks. Neurons are the core components of the nervous...
s, allowing control over similarly bonded animals and living biotechnological structures called bitek (2058). In year 2069, the affinity gene was successfully engineered into human DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
.
Bitek habitats, living constructs made of polyp (artificial coral) in which people could live, were germinated in space. The first habitat, Eden, was germinated in 2075 and people began immigration in 2085.
In 2090, as Wing-Tsit Chong was dying, he transferred his memories to Eden's memory cells, effectively beginning the Edenist culture as his ideas and philosophy were committed to memory. Through affinity, Chong was able to continue living as a non-corporeal observer inside the habitat.
In response to this non-Christian afterlife, Pope Eleanor of the Unified Christian Church excommunicated humans born with affinity engineering in 2090, claiming Chong's soul would not continue its transcendental journey due to him cheating death.
Affinity
The affinity bond, similar to telepathyTelepathy
Telepathy , is the induction of mental states from one mind to another. The term was coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Fredric W. H. Myers, a founder of the Society for Psychical Research, and has remained more popular than the more-correct expression thought-transference...
, links all Edenists together mentally. It is normally a genetically-engineered trait; Adamists may gain the affinity ability through neural injection of the symbiont. Affinity uses two modes of engagement:
Modes of engagement
Singular engagement is that between two Edenists, an Edenist and a bitek construct, two bitek constructs, or an Edenist/bitek construct and an Adamist with neural symbionts.Collective engagement is that between three or more affinity-enabled beings. (Personal and public affinity-use is also distinguished by these terms.) A special collective engagement called consensus enables a large group of affinity-enabled beings to form a singular representative mental entity. (See group mind
Group mind (science fiction)
A group mind, hive mind or group ego in science fiction is a single consciousness occupying many bodies. Its use in literature goes back at least as far as Olaf Stapledon's science fiction novel Last and First Men ....
.)
Emotional support
Not only does affinity allow for communication, it also defines a key aspect of Edenist culture. Emotions and raw thoughts can be filtered and sent via affinity. This connects Edenists on a far greater sociological plateau than Adamists, as they can provide support and encouragement to other Edenists in need. This apparently contributes to the common Edenist belief of self-superiority to all non-Edenists.Adamist alternatives
Sensevise can provide similar experiences. A sensevise record can contain the complete sensory input a human being is capable of (sight, hearing, smell, touch, emotion, thought, ...). Sensevise records are very frequently used in the Night's Dawn universe, most often by the media. While capable of recording the full human state, a sensevise record must be pre-recorded and will typically be heavily edited so could only be considered a hollow equivalent of affinity, if it could be considered an equivalent at all. For example the Adamist faction of humanity has no Consensus, nor the capacity for the simultaneous links or telepathic attributes which define affinity.Bitek
The term bitek is an abridgment of biotechnologyBiotechnology
Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology also utilizes these products for manufacturing purpose...
; in The Night's Dawn, it is a form of sentient biotechnology used by numerous human cultures in the Confederation, most notably, Edenists.
Edenist habitats
With the exception of Atlantis (the only planet colonized by Edenists), Edenists live in habitatsSpace habitat
A space habitat is a space station intended as a permanent settlement rather than as a simple waystation or other specialized facility...
. A habitat is a hollow body of cylindrical shape. The largest habitat (Tranquility) measures 65 kilometres in length and 18 kilometres in diameter. Due to certain constraints (see later), habitats can only exist on the orbit of a gas giant
Gas giant
A gas giant is a large planet that is not primarily composed of rock or other solid matter. There are four gas giants in the Solar System: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune...
. After germination, a habitat usually grows for around 10 years. During this period it is supervised from a small space-station in a near orbit. After the growth period it is opened for settlement. The habitat is completely genetically engineered
Genetic engineering
Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification, is the direct human manipulation of an organism's genome using modern DNA technology. It involves the introduction of foreign DNA or synthetic genes into the organism of interest...
. It is mostly made out of Bitek Polyp (a living coral
Coral
Corals are marine animals in class Anthozoa of phylum Cnidaria typically living in compact colonies of many identical individual "polyps". The group includes the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton.A coral "head" is a colony of...
). A habitat is completely self-supporting. Artificial gravity
Artificial gravity
Artificial gravity is the varying of apparent gravity via artificial means, particularly in space, but also on the Earth...
is created by rotating the whole habitat around its axis. The light inside the habitat is produced by a hollow tube which spans the entire length of the habitat and is powered by high electric currents. The habitat's basic functions are digestion of interstellar material
Interstellar medium
In astronomy, the interstellar medium is the matter that exists in the space between the star systems in a galaxy. This matter includes gas in ionic, atomic, and molecular form, dust, and cosmic rays. It fills interstellar space and blends smoothly into the surrounding intergalactic space...
into everything needed to support its structure and its inhabitants (during maturation the habitat usually consumes large amounts of interstellar matter) and digestion of all waste products produced by the inhabitants and the habitat itself. It only requires an external power supply
Power supply
A power supply is a device that supplies electrical energy to one or more electric loads. The term is most commonly applied to devices that convert one form of electrical energy to another, though it may also refer to devices that convert another form of energy to electrical energy...
; this is achieved via conductor cables
Power cable
A power cable is an assembly of two or more electrical conductors, usually held together with an overall sheath. The assembly is used for transmission of electrical power...
, which grow on the outer hull of the habitat. Due to the rotation, these cables cross the electromagnetic
Electromagnetism
Electromagnetism is one of the four fundamental interactions in nature. The other three are the strong interaction, the weak interaction and gravitation...
flux
Flux
In the various subfields of physics, there exist two common usages of the term flux, both with rigorous mathematical frameworks.* In the study of transport phenomena , flux is defined as flow per unit area, where flow is the movement of some quantity per time...
of the nearby gas giant and thus produce electrical energy.
Communication with the habitat can be achieved via affinity or via datavise using special interfaces. Each habitat also has its own habitat personality. The habitat Eden was the first habitat germinated (by the JSKP during 2058) and is the oldest living sentient entity in the Confederation. The personality of Wing-Tsit Chong (inventor of the affinity gene and the founder of the Edenist culture) resides within the neural strate of Eden.
Non-Edenist habitats
Five habitats were germinated outside of Edenist culture, most notably among them Tranquility and Valisk. These habitats are in no way represented in Edenist consensus or activities. In fact, presumably all of them deviate from Edenism in at least some aspects, usually absolute.Government
JupiterJupiter
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest planet within the Solar System. It is a gas giant with mass one-thousandth that of the Sun but is two and a half times the mass of all the other planets in our Solar System combined. Jupiter is classified as a gas giant along with Saturn,...
, the largest gas giant in the Sol system, Milky Way galaxy, is home to the largest Edenist government called the Jovian Consensus. Due to the limits of affinity each solar system colonized by Edenists has its own autonomous government. The Jovian Consensus is a true democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
; it consists of the collective-conscience of all Edenists and sentient
Sentience
Sentience is the ability to feel, perceive or be conscious, or to have subjective experiences. Eighteenth century philosophers used the concept to distinguish the ability to think from the ability to feel . In modern western philosophy, sentience is the ability to have sensations or experiences...
bitek constructs within affinity range. Due to the nature of consensus affinity, complete representation can be established instantaneously and with minimal confusion.
Serpents
Serpents are Edenists who reject the Edenist lifestyle, they are generally people with social problems who dislike having to share their thoughts. Most Serpents are engaged in either over-ambitious projects or criminal activity and tend to be very successful at it.Rubra, the founder of Magellanic Itg and creator of
Valisk, was a Serpent, as was the notorious mass-murderer Laton.
Finance
The standard currency is the Fuseodollar. Edenism wealth comes primarily from mining Helium-3Helium-3
Helium-3 is a light, non-radioactive isotope of helium with two protons and one neutron. It is rare on Earth, and is sought for use in nuclear fusion research...
(3He) from gas giants. This is done by using cloud scoops.