Takis (Wild Cards)
Encyclopedia
Takis is a fictional planet in the Wild Cards
book series. It is the homeworld of Dr. Tachyon
and the source of the Wild Card virus. The culture of Takis has been alluded to in many Wild Cards stories, but was fleshed out more fully in the Wild Cards novel Double Solitaire
by Melinda M. Snodgrass
.
According to Double Solitaire, Takis is a planet some twenty-five light years from Earth. It has large polar ice caps, and slightly lower gravity than Earth (Tachyon often refers to Earth as a "hot, heavy planet"). The inhabitants of Takis are genetically identical to humans, with the exceptions that they are bred for longer lifespans, and that the Takisian ruling class
possess telepathy
and other, more limited psionic powers.
The rulers of Takis, known as the Psi Lords, are divided into Houses of greater and lesser status. These houses are highly competitive and often in conflict with each other; various complex rituals and social behaviors have evolved to minimize violence and collateral damage from these events. This society has similarities to that of Renaissance
Italy
, although Jay Ackroyd
has cynically compared it to the "Families" of the Mafia
.
Since breeding is of vital importance to Takisian society, adult females and children of the upper classes are kept closely confined and under constant guard. Psi Lord society is very structured, yet among the (male) aristocracy life is considered a constant hunt for virtu (status), which can occasionally lead to reckless behavior in pursuit of glory.
The most important relationship the Takisians have is with a species of living, sentient starships, a bond formed centuries ago. As with most of Takisian culture, the winning of a ship is seen as a test of personal worth and virtu. A young Psi Lord is placed on board a feral
Ship, and must conquer it telepathically. Those with the will to break a Ship return as heroes. Those who do not don't return at all.
The Takisians are highly advanced in biotechnology
and genetics, being responsible for the Wild Card virus, which was developed by House Ilkazam as The Enhancer, a means of increasing their innate psi abilities. Due to its high failure rate, it was deemed unsuitable to test on highborn Psi Lords, while testing it on rival Houses or lowborn "groundlings" might give super-powers to unsuitable individuals. Fortunately for them, the planet Earth was located, with billions of disposable people genetically identical to Takisians. A Ship is sent there to test the virus, but an idealistic maverick named Tisianne brant Ts'ara
is determined to make trouble...
Wild Cards
Wild Cards is a science fiction and superhero anthology series set in a shared universe. The series was created by a group of New Mexico science fiction authors, but it is mostly pulled together and edited by best-selling author George R. R. Martin with assistance by Melinda Snodgrass, also a...
book series. It is the homeworld of Dr. Tachyon
Dr. Tachyon
Dr. Tachyon is a character from the Wild Cards series of books. He was created for the books by Melinda M. Snodgrass. Tachyon is a geneticist from the planet Takis, whose people naturally developed various telepathic powers...
and the source of the Wild Card virus. The culture of Takis has been alluded to in many Wild Cards stories, but was fleshed out more fully in the Wild Cards novel Double Solitaire
Double Solitaire
Double Solitaire , the tenth entry and the first full novel in the Wild Cards shared universe fiction series edited by George R. R. Martin. It was authored by Melinda Snodgrass and first published in paperback in the USA.-Plot introduction:...
by Melinda M. Snodgrass
Melinda M. Snodgrass
Melinda M. Snodgrass is a professional writer best known for her work in science fiction for print and television media....
.
According to Double Solitaire, Takis is a planet some twenty-five light years from Earth. It has large polar ice caps, and slightly lower gravity than Earth (Tachyon often refers to Earth as a "hot, heavy planet"). The inhabitants of Takis are genetically identical to humans, with the exceptions that they are bred for longer lifespans, and that the Takisian ruling class
Ruling class
The term ruling class refers to the social class of a given society that decides upon and sets that society's political policy - assuming there is one such particular class in the given society....
possess telepathy
Telepathy
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...
and other, more limited psionic powers.
The rulers of Takis, known as the Psi Lords, are divided into Houses of greater and lesser status. These houses are highly competitive and often in conflict with each other; various complex rituals and social behaviors have evolved to minimize violence and collateral damage from these events. This society has similarities to that of Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, although Jay Ackroyd
Popinjay (Wild Cards)
Jay "Popinjay" Ackroyd is a character from the Wild Cards series of books.-Powers:As an Ace , Jay can teleport people and things anywhere he can clearly visualize Jay "Popinjay" Ackroyd is a character from the Wild Cards series of books.-Powers:As an Ace (a Wild Card victim with powers, but...
has cynically compared it to the "Families" of the Mafia
Mafia
The Mafia is a criminal syndicate that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century in Sicily, Italy. It is a loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct, and whose common enterprise is protection racketeering...
.
Since breeding is of vital importance to Takisian society, adult females and children of the upper classes are kept closely confined and under constant guard. Psi Lord society is very structured, yet among the (male) aristocracy life is considered a constant hunt for virtu (status), which can occasionally lead to reckless behavior in pursuit of glory.
The most important relationship the Takisians have is with a species of living, sentient starships, a bond formed centuries ago. As with most of Takisian culture, the winning of a ship is seen as a test of personal worth and virtu. A young Psi Lord is placed on board a feral
Feral
A feral organism is one that has changed from being domesticated to being wild or untamed. In the case of plants it is a movement from cultivated to uncultivated or controlled to volunteer. The introduction of feral animals or plants to their non-native regions, like any introduced species, may...
Ship, and must conquer it telepathically. Those with the will to break a Ship return as heroes. Those who do not don't return at all.
The Takisians are highly advanced in biotechnology
Biotechnology
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...
and genetics, being responsible for the Wild Card virus, which was developed by House Ilkazam as The Enhancer, a means of increasing their innate psi abilities. Due to its high failure rate, it was deemed unsuitable to test on highborn Psi Lords, while testing it on rival Houses or lowborn "groundlings" might give super-powers to unsuitable individuals. Fortunately for them, the planet Earth was located, with billions of disposable people genetically identical to Takisians. A Ship is sent there to test the virus, but an idealistic maverick named Tisianne brant Ts'ara
Dr. Tachyon
Dr. Tachyon is a character from the Wild Cards series of books. He was created for the books by Melinda M. Snodgrass. Tachyon is a geneticist from the planet Takis, whose people naturally developed various telepathic powers...
is determined to make trouble...