Formics
Encyclopedia
The Formics, also known as Buggers, are a fictional insect
oid alien species
from the Ender's Game series
of science fiction
novels by Orson Scott Card
.
The term "Formic" is derived from formica, the Latin
word for ant
. It can also be understood to represent that which is formless
until given a shape.
The term "Bugger" is a pejorative one used by humans in expressing their fear of the unknown Formics, who are to them the very embodiment of terror.
colonies that are philotically directed by queens. As evidenced in Mazer Rackham's victory in the Second Invasion, if a queen dies, all the drones under her control lose their intelligence and ability to function immediately. However, in Xenocide, The Hive Queen has a memory that associates with the word rogue, most likely meaning that 'drones' have some degree of sentience
and can escape the influence of a queen. Formic queens communicate instantaneously via philotic connections and can even do so with other species, although this is more difficult. Formics live in vast underground colonies that are pitch black and confusing for humans to navigate, leading to the assumption that Formics make use of sensory apparatus different from that of humans (i.e. other than the range of the electromagnetic spectrum
visible to humans). There are other conflicting theories, however; in the first novel they were said to have artificial lighting. In Xenocide, Ender claims they view things via heat signature.
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
oid alien species
Extraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
from the Ender's Game series
Ender's Game series
The Ender's Game series is a series of science fiction books by Orson Scott Card. The series started with the novelette "Ender's Game", which was later expanded into the novel Ender's Game. It currently consists of eleven novels and ten short stories...
of science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
novels by Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card is an American author, critic, public speaker, essayist, columnist, and political activist. He writes in several genres, but is primarily known for his science fiction. His novel Ender's Game and its sequel Speaker for the Dead both won Hugo and Nebula Awards, making Card the...
.
The term "Formic" is derived from formica, the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
word for ant
Ant
Ants are social insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from wasp-like ancestors in the mid-Cretaceous period between 110 and 130 million years ago and diversified after the rise of flowering plants. More than...
. It can also be understood to represent that which is formless
Abhibhavayatana
Abhibhāvayatana , or abhibhāyatana , is a concept in Buddhism through which meditation is achieved in eight stages by mastering the senses...
until given a shape.
The term "Bugger" is a pejorative one used by humans in expressing their fear of the unknown Formics, who are to them the very embodiment of terror.
Biology
The Formic species consists of hive-mindedGroup 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 ....
colonies that are philotically directed by queens. As evidenced in Mazer Rackham's victory in the Second Invasion, if a queen dies, all the drones under her control lose their intelligence and ability to function immediately. However, in Xenocide, The Hive Queen has a memory that associates with the word rogue, most likely meaning that 'drones' have some degree of sentience
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...
and can escape the influence of a queen. Formic queens communicate instantaneously via philotic connections and can even do so with other species, although this is more difficult. Formics live in vast underground colonies that are pitch black and confusing for humans to navigate, leading to the assumption that Formics make use of sensory apparatus different from that of humans (i.e. other than the range of the electromagnetic spectrum
Electromagnetic spectrum
The electromagnetic spectrum is the range of all possible frequencies of electromagnetic radiation. The "electromagnetic spectrum" of an object is the characteristic distribution of electromagnetic radiation emitted or absorbed by that particular object....
visible to humans). There are other conflicting theories, however; in the first novel they were said to have artificial lighting. In Xenocide, Ender claims they view things via heat signature.