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The Golovans are a fictional alien race from the Noon Universe
created by the Strugatsky brothers. Their homeworld is called Saraksh
, allegedly discovered by A.-I. Bader in 2148 AD. The first contact between Golovans and a human was registered in 2157 (initiated by Maxim Kammerer
) although officially it happened three years later in 2160 (see Lev Abalkin
).
Golovans are mentioned in "Inhabited Island
", "Beetle in an Anthill" and "The Time Wanderers
".
, they don't have even basic technology and prefer to use alien ones (although they can easily live without it).
fauna because of extreme radiation levels after the atomic war on Saraksh although some sources believe that they were genetically bred by the local humanity before the war. They resided within Saraksh's irradiated, heavily fortified "forest."
Lev Abalkin
was the first to meet and to study them and he was also the only human to work in a pair with a Golovan, Schokn-Itrch. The latter later became the head of the Golovans' permanent embassy on Earth.
After the official contact a number of personal exchange programs were set up (Abalkin was a participant in one of those). Towards the end of the 22nd century, the Golovans decided that they had learned all they possibly could from space exploration and downscaled their involvement in human space programs.
Noon Universe
The Noon Universe is a fictional future setting for a number of hard science fiction novels written by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. The universe is named after Noon: 22nd Century, the chronologically first novel from the series...
created by the Strugatsky brothers. Their homeworld is called Saraksh
Saraksh
Saraksh is a fictional planet described in Prisoners of Power by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. This planet is a part of the so called Noon Universe and presents a world that survived an atomic war. As a result, the surface of the planet is mostly covered with debris and junk...
, allegedly discovered by A.-I. Bader in 2148 AD. The first contact between Golovans and a human was registered in 2157 (initiated by Maxim Kammerer
Maxim Kammerer
Maxim Kammerer is a fictional character in Arkady and Boris Strugatsky's series of science fiction novels set in the Noon Universe....
) although officially it happened three years later in 2160 (see Lev Abalkin
Lev Abalkin
Lev Abalkin is a fictional character in Boris and Arkady Strugatsky's series of science fiction novels set in the Noon Universe.-Biography:Lev Abalkin was born on 6. October 2138 on Earth...
).
Golovans are mentioned in "Inhabited Island
Inhabited Island
*Prisoners of Power , novel*The Inhabited Island, 2008-9 film...
", "Beetle in an Anthill" and "The Time Wanderers
The Time Wanderers
The Time Wanderers is a 1985 science fiction novel by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky, set in the Noon Universe...
".
Appearance
Golovans are described as a dog-like race with disproportionately large heads. The latter are the reason for their name.Technological Advancement
Despite the Golovans' mental and intellectual abilities that easily surpass those of humansHumans (Noon Universe)
Humans of the Noon Universe created by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky are mostly identical to homo sapiens. Humans inhabit numerous planets, but their original homeworld is probably Earth, others being populated by humans, presumably, as a result of Wanderers' manipulations.-Human Planets:The...
, they don't have even basic technology and prefer to use alien ones (although they can easily live without it).
Background
Golovans are considered a lucky mutation of SarakshSaraksh
Saraksh is a fictional planet described in Prisoners of Power by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. This planet is a part of the so called Noon Universe and presents a world that survived an atomic war. As a result, the surface of the planet is mostly covered with debris and junk...
fauna because of extreme radiation levels after the atomic war on Saraksh although some sources believe that they were genetically bred by the local humanity before the war. They resided within Saraksh's irradiated, heavily fortified "forest."
Golovans and Humans
Because of the mystery Golovans like to surround themselves with, the first official contact between them and humans was registered twelve years after the discovery of their homeworld. A young scientist and progressorProgressor
Progressors in science fiction are people of an advanced space-faring civilization who facilitate progress of less advanced civilizations. It comes from a perspective very much the opposite of what motivates Star Trek's famous Prime Directive....
Lev Abalkin
Lev Abalkin
Lev Abalkin is a fictional character in Boris and Arkady Strugatsky's series of science fiction novels set in the Noon Universe.-Biography:Lev Abalkin was born on 6. October 2138 on Earth...
was the first to meet and to study them and he was also the only human to work in a pair with a Golovan, Schokn-Itrch. The latter later became the head of the Golovans' permanent embassy on Earth.
After the official contact a number of personal exchange programs were set up (Abalkin was a participant in one of those). Towards the end of the 22nd century, the Golovans decided that they had learned all they possibly could from space exploration and downscaled their involvement in human space programs.