Tandu
Encyclopedia
The Tandu are a fictional extraterrestrial species from David Brin
's Uplift Universe
. Physically they are a spindly insectoid species. They are capable of regenerating
severed limbs and even heads. If forced to humiliate itself by conversing with a member of an alien species as an equal, a Tandu will cut off one or two of its own legs as a form of ritual purification
. A Tandu who has been deemed by his superiors to have failed unforgivably is expected to commit "suicide
" by cutting off his own head (the body survives and eventually grows back a new head, but presumably the original personality dies with the brain).
species, viewing all other intelligent lifeforms simply as enemies or tools for them to use. They follow the "Inheritor" sect of the cult of the Progenitors, believing that upon the return of the Progenitors (an event roughly equivalent to the Christian Rapture
in many Galactic mythologies) the current power structure of galactic civilization will be destroyed and the universe will be cleansed of "unworthy" races. The Tandu believe they will be given the privilege of being made the Progenitors' holy warriors, who will slaughter the unworthy upon their return.
adepts: Episiarchs and Acceptors. The Tandu may have violated the rules of the uplift institute by making them truly dependent on them. The Tandu have had records of their clients sealed.
an Episiarch is used to create a temporary dry pathway on waterlogged land so that a party of Tandu infantry may move more easily.
Incrementors were the Tandu's first Client race, their being listed last in formal introductions likely indicates a demotion in status. They resemble multi-legged dandelions with sensory nodules circling below a globe of soft fuzz. They are likely Psi-adepts like the rest of the Tandu client races. How they serve the Tandu is unknown.
The Tandu have fought several minor skirmishes with the Earth Confederation. They are described as being extremely dangerous enemies, often winning even when the numerical odds favored the humans. This may not necessarily say all that much about their prowess, as humans in this universe are an extremely weak race, but more advanced alien species seem to respect their abilities. The Tandu are organized as a raiding force and use mostly Battlecruiser
-like ships with great speed and firepower but poor protection that rely mostly on not getting hit for their survival. A Tandu light destroyer was described as being equipped with "antimatter
beams", possibly antiparticle beams or possibly more exotic antimatter/matter conversion weapons.
David Brin
Glen David Brin, Ph.D. is an American scientist and award-winning author of science fiction. He has received the Hugo, Locus, Campbell and Nebula Awards.-Biography:...
's Uplift Universe
Uplift Universe
The Uplift Universe is a fictional universe created by science fiction writer David Brin. A central feature in this universe is the process of biological uplift.His books which take place in this universe:* Sundiver...
. Physically they are a spindly insectoid species. They are capable of regenerating
Regeneration (biology)
In biology, regeneration is the process of renewal, restoration, and growth that makes genomes, cells, organs, organisms, and ecosystems resilient to natural fluctuations or events that cause disturbance or damage. Every species is capable of regeneration, from bacteria to humans. At its most...
severed limbs and even heads. If forced to humiliate itself by conversing with a member of an alien species as an equal, a Tandu will cut off one or two of its own legs as a form of ritual purification
Ritual purification
Ritual purification is a feature of many religions. The aim of these rituals is to remove specifically defined uncleanliness prior to a particular type of activity, and especially prior to the worship of a deity...
. A Tandu who has been deemed by his superiors to have failed unforgivably is expected to commit "suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
" by cutting off his own head (the body survives and eventually grows back a new head, but presumably the original personality dies with the brain).
Worship
Like many Uplift Universe species, the Tandu worship the Progenitors (a semi-mythical race that lived two billion years ago and created (uplifted) the first intelligent species) and would by human standards be considered religious zealots. They are a highly xenophobicXenophobia
Xenophobia is defined as "an unreasonable fear of foreigners or strangers or of that which is foreign or strange". It comes from the Greek words ξένος , meaning "stranger," "foreigner" and φόβος , meaning "fear."...
species, viewing all other intelligent lifeforms simply as enemies or tools for them to use. They follow the "Inheritor" sect of the cult of the Progenitors, believing that upon the return of the Progenitors (an event roughly equivalent to the Christian Rapture
Rapture
The rapture is a reference to the "being caught up" referred to in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, when the "dead in Christ" and "we who are alive and remain" will be caught up in the clouds to meet "the Lord"....
in many Galactic mythologies) the current power structure of galactic civilization will be destroyed and the universe will be cleansed of "unworthy" races. The Tandu believe they will be given the privilege of being made the Progenitors' holy warriors, who will slaughter the unworthy upon their return.
Clients
The Tandu have created at least two slave races that are powerful psychicPsychic
A psychic is a person who professes an ability to perceive information hidden from the normal senses through extrasensory perception , or is said by others to have such abilities. It is also used to describe theatrical performers who use techniques such as prestidigitation, cold reading, and hot...
adepts: Episiarchs and Acceptors. The Tandu may have violated the rules of the uplift institute by making them truly dependent on them. The Tandu have had records of their clients sealed.
Episiarchs
Episiarchs are shaggy quadrupeds that have the ability to temporarily alter reality by force of will, and are used to open short-lived portals that allow Tandu ships to travel instantly to distant parts of the universe, giving them nearly unmatched strategic speed. This method of travel is not popular among other starfaring races because of the risk involved, as it randomly results in the destruction of entire ships or even fleets. The Episiarchs have other military (and possibly civilian) uses as well, although these are not greatly elaborated upon. In Startide RisingStartide Rising
Startide Rising is a 1983 science fiction novel by David Brin and the second book of six set in his Uplift Universe . It earned both Hugo and Nebula Awards for Best Novel...
an Episiarch is used to create a temporary dry pathway on waterlogged land so that a party of Tandu infantry may move more easily.
Acceptors
Acceptors are spider-like creatures that have the ability to psionically "see" the universe around them in great detail and clarity, that is, they "accept" data at a quantum level at great range. They are used by the Tandu as living sensors.Incrementors
Incrementors have only appeared in the book Contacting Aliens: An Illustrated Guide To David Brin's Uplift Universe and may be later changed.Incrementors were the Tandu's first Client race, their being listed last in formal introductions likely indicates a demotion in status. They resemble multi-legged dandelions with sensory nodules circling below a globe of soft fuzz. They are likely Psi-adepts like the rest of the Tandu client races. How they serve the Tandu is unknown.
Technology and relationship with Earthclan
In the novel Startide Rising, a Tandu warship used a probability engine, directed by an Episiarch, to leap into the middle of an enemy formation. The ship created a great deal of destruction, before the Tandu ship ceased to have ever existed. The risks of this probability drive deter most non Tandu races from using such technology.The Tandu have fought several minor skirmishes with the Earth Confederation. They are described as being extremely dangerous enemies, often winning even when the numerical odds favored the humans. This may not necessarily say all that much about their prowess, as humans in this universe are an extremely weak race, but more advanced alien species seem to respect their abilities. The Tandu are organized as a raiding force and use mostly Battlecruiser
Battlecruiser
Battlecruisers were large capital ships built in the first half of the 20th century. They were developed in the first decade of the century as the successor to the armoured cruiser, but their evolution was more closely linked to that of the dreadnought battleship...
-like ships with great speed and firepower but poor protection that rely mostly on not getting hit for their survival. A Tandu light destroyer was described as being equipped with "antimatter
Antimatter
In particle physics, antimatter is the extension of the concept of the antiparticle to matter, where antimatter is composed of antiparticles in the same way that normal matter is composed of particles...
beams", possibly antiparticle beams or possibly more exotic antimatter/matter conversion weapons.