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The similarities between the two groups are obvious. The Qu and the Asteromorphs are both likened to gods, have no fixed home planet, are capable of transforming and modifying other species as they see fit, kill off any species that they believe defies their will, and consider themselves to be the dominant intelligence in the universe. Normally, this would simply be a case of MirroringFactions, but there are a couple factors that give me pause. One is the fact that when the Qu are introduced, they're stated to be a billion years old-- the exact same length of time that the story itself covers with humanity's future. Another is the fact that, when the Asteromorphs defeat the Gravital, the picture is a near mirror image of the one that accompanies the chapter where the Qu defeat the Star People. In fact, the Asteromorphs themselves even look vaguely like the Qu, with their huge "wings" and spindly bodies. Probably the most interesting thing, though, is the ending, where it describes how the Asteromorphs and their subjects simply vanished. The narrator muses on a number of possibilities for why this might have happened (social collapse, galactic war, [[AscendedToAHigherPlaneOfExistence ascending to another plane of existence]]), but doesn't mention any of them conclusively. It's also mentioned in passing that the Asteromorphs discovered wormholes.
to:
The similarities between the two groups are obvious. The Qu and the Asteromorphs are both likened to gods, have no fixed home planet, are capable of transforming and modifying other species as they see fit, kill off any species that they believe defies their will, and consider themselves to be the dominant intelligence in the universe.
Normally, this would simply be a case of MirroringFactions, but there are a couple factors that give me pause. One is the fact that when the Qu are introduced, they're stated to be a billion years old-- the exact same length of time that the story itself covers with humanity's future. Another is the fact that, when the Asteromorphs defeat the Gravital, the picture is a near mirror image of the one that accompanies the chapter where the Qu defeat the Star People. In fact, the Asteromorphs themselves even look vaguely like the Qu, with their huge "wings" and spindly bodies.
Probably the most interesting thing, though, is the ending, where it describes how the Asteromorphs and their subjects simply vanished. The narrator muses on a number of possibilities for why this might have happened (social collapse, galactic war, [[AscendedToAHigherPlaneOfExistence ascending to another plane of existence]]), but doesn't mention any of them conclusively. It's also mentioned in passing that the Asteromorphs discoveredwormholes.wormholes, though this isn't elaborated on.
Normally, this would simply be a case of MirroringFactions, but there are a couple factors that give me pause. One is the fact that when the Qu are introduced, they're stated to be a billion years old-- the exact same length of time that the story itself covers with humanity's future. Another is the fact that, when the Asteromorphs defeat the Gravital, the picture is a near mirror image of the one that accompanies the chapter where the Qu defeat the Star People. In fact, the Asteromorphs themselves even look vaguely like the Qu, with their huge "wings" and spindly bodies.
Probably the most interesting thing, though, is the ending, where it describes how the Asteromorphs and their subjects simply vanished. The narrator muses on a number of possibilities for why this might have happened (social collapse, galactic war, [[AscendedToAHigherPlaneOfExistence ascending to another plane of existence]]), but doesn't mention any of them conclusively. It's also mentioned in passing that the Asteromorphs discovered
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Changed line(s) 30,31 (click to see context) from:
The similarities between the two groups are obvious. The Qu and the Asteromorphs are both likened to gods, have no fixed home planet, are capable of transforming and modifying other species as they see fit, kill off any species that they believe defies their will, and consider themselves to be the dominant intelligence in the universe. Normally, this would simply be a case of MirroringFactions or NotSoDifferent, but there are a couple factors that give me pause. One is the fact that when the Qu are introduced, they're stated to be a billion years old-- the exact same length of time that the story itself covers with humanity's future. Another is the fact that, when the Asteromorphs defeat the Gravital, the picture is a near mirror image of the one that accompanies the chapter where the Qu defeat the Star People. In fact, the Asteromorphs themselves even look vaguely like the Qu, with their huge "wings" and spindly bodies.
Probably the most interesting thing, though, is the ending, where it describes how the Asteromorphs and their subjects simply vanished. The narrator muses on a number of possibilities for why this might have happened (social collapse, galactic war, [[AscendedToAHigherPlaneOfExistence ascending to another plane of existence]]), but doesn't mention any of them conclusively. It's also mentioned in passing that the Asteromorphs discovered wormholes.
Probably the most interesting thing, though, is the ending, where it describes how the Asteromorphs and their subjects simply vanished. The narrator muses on a number of possibilities for why this might have happened (social collapse, galactic war, [[AscendedToAHigherPlaneOfExistence ascending to another plane of existence]]), but doesn't mention any of them conclusively. It's also mentioned in passing that the Asteromorphs discovered wormholes.
to:
The similarities between the two groups are obvious. The Qu and the Asteromorphs are both likened to gods, have no fixed home planet, are capable of transforming and modifying other species as they see fit, kill off any species that they believe defies their will, and consider themselves to be the dominant intelligence in the universe. Normally, this would simply be a case of MirroringFactions or NotSoDifferent, MirroringFactions, but there are a couple factors that give me pause. One is the fact that when the Qu are introduced, they're stated to be a billion years old-- the exact same length of time that the story itself covers with humanity's future. Another is the fact that, when the Asteromorphs defeat the Gravital, the picture is a near mirror image of the one that accompanies the chapter where the Qu defeat the Star People. In fact, the Asteromorphs themselves even look vaguely like the Qu, with their huge "wings" and spindly bodies. \n Probably the most interesting thing, though, is the ending, where it describes how the Asteromorphs and their subjects simply vanished. The narrator muses on a number of possibilities for why this might have happened (social collapse, galactic war, [[AscendedToAHigherPlaneOfExistence ascending to another plane of existence]]), but doesn't mention any of them conclusively. It's also mentioned in passing that the Asteromorphs discovered wormholes.
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[[WMG: The Asteromorphs ''became'' the Qu]]
The similarities between the two groups are obvious. The Qu and the Asteromorphs are both likened to gods, have no fixed home planet, are capable of transforming and modifying other species as they see fit, kill off any species that they believe defies their will, and consider themselves to be the dominant intelligence in the universe. Normally, this would simply be a case of MirroringFactions or NotSoDifferent, but there are a couple factors that give me pause. One is the fact that when the Qu are introduced, they're stated to be a billion years old-- the exact same length of time that the story itself covers with humanity's future. Another is the fact that, when the Asteromorphs defeat the Gravital, the picture is a near mirror image of the one that accompanies the chapter where the Qu defeat the Star People. In fact, the Asteromorphs themselves even look vaguely like the Qu, with their huge "wings" and spindly bodies.
Probably the most interesting thing, though, is the ending, where it describes how the Asteromorphs and their subjects simply vanished. The narrator muses on a number of possibilities for why this might have happened (social collapse, galactic war, [[AscendedToAHigherPlaneOfExistence ascending to another plane of existence]]), but doesn't mention any of them conclusively. It's also mentioned in passing that the Asteromorphs discovered wormholes.
All of this leads to a rather shocking conclusion-- the Asteromorphs, instead of going extinct, might have ''traveled back in time'' and evolved into the Qu, ultimately causing the near-extinction of their own ancestors!
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[[WMG: The Narrator isn't holding the human skull upside-down.]]
Rather, it's the ''Narrator'' who is upside-down in the picture, as this particular being's natural body orientation is to hang head-down from branches or ceilings. Of all the varied ecological roles and lifestyles to which the Qu adapted the conquered humans, the "arboreal" niche is highly conspicuous by its absence, considering everything from swimming to flight, filter-feeder to apex predator, and generalist to extreme specialist are represented in the book. But correcting this oversight, the Narrator could well be derived from clinging canopy-foragers which spent more of their time upside-down (by human reckoning) than right-side up. This would account for the development of such an elongated and flexible grasping appendage (to collect food from surrounding branches without having to reposition themselves), dual forward-facing eyes (to judge distances between branches), and mid-cranial protrusions whose ''extremely'' narrow stalks seem more plausible if they were to dangle from above, rather than jut upwards. In the picture from the book's end, the Narrator is depicted head-at-top, but only because that's how ''a reader of the same species'', likewise inverted, would see them during face-to-face conversation. The skull ''looks'' upside-down as a consequence, but in fact, the Narrator is holding it that way to display this exceptional fossil exactly as it would've been arranged in life, relative to gravity's pull.
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[[WMG: The Narrator is a descendant of the Qu]]
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[[WMG: The Qu were once beings akin to the Asteromorphs]]
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[[WMG: The Qu and Asteromorphs made peace with each other at the end of the book.]]
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Relating to the WMG above, the Qu and Asteromorphs became [[MirroringFactions very similar to each other in terms of intelligence, body plan, and behavior]]. Maybe at some point during the conflict, a few Qu and Asteromorphs would realized that from reading each other's history books they steal, that they're not so different and ended the war in peace, allying themselves to make sure that no genocidal civilization would emerge again.
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Relating to the WMG above, the Qu and Asteromorphs became [[MirroringFactions very similar to each other in terms of intelligence, body plan, and behavior]]. Maybe at some point during the conflict, a few Qu and Asteromorphs would realized that from reading each other's history books they steal, that they're not so different and ended the war in peace, allying themselves to make sure that no genocidal civilization would emerge again.again.
----
----
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Changed line(s) 11,12 (click to see context) from:
If the Narrator is a Qu, or at least one of their descendants, then they might well look on what their ancestors did with horror, seeing it far worse then the actions of an unrelated species- actions which, indirectly, were the result of their own after all.
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If the Narrator is a Qu, or at least one of their descendants, then they might well look on what their ancestors did with horror, seeing it far worse then the actions of an unrelated species- actions which, which were, indirectly, were the result of their own after all.
crimes.
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Not So Different has been renamed, and it needs to be dewicked
Changed line(s) 24 (click to see context) from:
Relating to the WMG above, the Qu and Asteromorphs became [[MirroringFactions very similar to each other in terms of intelligence, body plan, and behavior]]. Maybe at some point during the conflict, a few Qu and Asteromorphs would realized that from reading each other's history books they steal, that they're NotSoDifferent and ended the war in peace, allying themselves to make sure that no genocidal civilization would emerge again.
to:
Relating to the WMG above, the Qu and Asteromorphs became [[MirroringFactions very similar to each other in terms of intelligence, body plan, and behavior]]. Maybe at some point during the conflict, a few Qu and Asteromorphs would realized that from reading each other's history books they steal, that they're NotSoDifferent not so different and ended the war in peace, allying themselves to make sure that no genocidal civilization would emerge again.
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Changed line(s) 22 (click to see context) from:
At first glace, such a theory would contradict the Author's claims that the Qu have been subdued by the Asteromorphs, but as we see from later parts of the book, the Author never specified what happened to the Qu as he admits at the end of the book, he could likely be an UnreliableNarrator from his words "We are only beginning to piece the story together," while holding a human skull upside down. In hindsight, it would be immature of the Astermorphs for their age to destroy or enslave the Qu out of a petty grudge for a crime that happened over 100 million years before [[note]] Imagine [[HumanityOnTrial putting all of Earth's birds on trial for all the crimes their dinosaurian ancestors committed 100 million years ago for eating mammals that would one day become us]] just to reference how much of a waste of time and resources it would be for humanity to do the same to the Qu [[/note]]. Relating to the WMG above, the Qu and Asteromorphs became very similar to each other in terms of intelligence, body plan, and behavior. Maybe at some point during the conflict, a few Qu and Asteromorphs would realized that from reading each other's history books they steal, that they're NotSoDifferent and ended the war in peace, allying themselves to make sure that no genocidal civilization would emerge again.
to:
At first glace, such a theory would contradict the Author's claims that the Qu have been subdued by the Asteromorphs, but as we see from later parts of the book, the Author never specified what happened to the Qu as he admits at the end of the book, he could likely be an UnreliableNarrator from his words "We are only beginning to piece the story together," while holding a human skull upside down. In hindsight, it would be immature of the Astermorphs for their age to destroy or enslave the Qu out of a petty grudge for a crime that happened over 100 million years before [[note]] Imagine [[HumanityOnTrial putting all of Earth's birds on trial for all the crimes their dinosaurian ancestors committed 100 million years ago for eating mammals that would one day become us]] just to reference how much of a waste of time and resources it would be for humanity to do the same to the Qu [[/note]].
Relating to the WMG above, the Qu and Asteromorphs became [[MirroringFactions very similar to each other in terms of intelligence, body plan, andbehavior.behavior]]. Maybe at some point during the conflict, a few Qu and Asteromorphs would realized that from reading each other's history books they steal, that they're NotSoDifferent and ended the war in peace, allying themselves to make sure that no genocidal civilization would emerge again.
Relating to the WMG above, the Qu and Asteromorphs became [[MirroringFactions very similar to each other in terms of intelligence, body plan, and
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Changed line(s) 22 (click to see context) from:
At first glace, such a theory would contradict the Author's claims that the Qu have been subdued by the Asteromorphs, but as we see from later parts of the book, the Author never specified what happened to the Qu as he admits at the end of the book, he could likely be an UnreliableNarrator from his words "We are only beginning to piece the story together," while holding a human skull upside down. In hindsight, it would be immature of the Astermorphs for their age to destroy or enslave the Qu out of a petty grudge for a crime that happened over 100 million years before [[note]] Imagine [[HumanityOnTrial putting all of Earth's birds on trial for all the crimes their dinosaurian ancestors committed 100 million years ago for eating mammals that would one day become us]] just to reference how much of a waste of time and resources it would be to do so [[/note]]. Relating to the WMG above, the Qu and Asteromorphs became very similar to each other in terms of intelligence, body plan, and behavior. Maybe at some point during the conflict, a few Qu and Asteromorphs would realized that from reading each other's history books they steal, that they're NotSoDifferent and ended the war in peace, allying themselves to make sure that no genocidal civilization would emerge again.
to:
At first glace, such a theory would contradict the Author's claims that the Qu have been subdued by the Asteromorphs, but as we see from later parts of the book, the Author never specified what happened to the Qu as he admits at the end of the book, he could likely be an UnreliableNarrator from his words "We are only beginning to piece the story together," while holding a human skull upside down. In hindsight, it would be immature of the Astermorphs for their age to destroy or enslave the Qu out of a petty grudge for a crime that happened over 100 million years before [[note]] Imagine [[HumanityOnTrial putting all of Earth's birds on trial for all the crimes their dinosaurian ancestors committed 100 million years ago for eating mammals that would one day become us]] just to reference how much of a waste of time and resources it would be for humanity to do so the same to the Qu [[/note]]. Relating to the WMG above, the Qu and Asteromorphs became very similar to each other in terms of intelligence, body plan, and behavior. Maybe at some point during the conflict, a few Qu and Asteromorphs would realized that from reading each other's history books they steal, that they're NotSoDifferent and ended the war in peace, allying themselves to make sure that no genocidal civilization would emerge again.
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The Qu were a ludicrously advanced civilization of bio-engineers who never settled permanently on planets and believed they had a mandate to forcibly reshape sapient life as they saw fit. By the end of the book, the Asteromorphs are... a ludicrously advanced civilization of bio-engineers who never settle permanently on planets and believe they have a mandate to forcibly reshape other human species as they see fit. They even [[http://www.sivatherium.narod.ru/library/Ramjet/pics/06.jpg look]] [[http://www.sivatherium.narod.ru/library/Ramjet/pics/47.jpg similar]]. Perhaps millions of years before they invaded humanity, the ancestors of the nomadic Qu fought their own wars against aliens and other Qu species, which forced them to become SpaceNomads and convinced them they had a responsibility to control other lifeforms to prevent the emergence of Gravital-like genocidal civilizations.
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The Qu were a ludicrously advanced civilization of bio-engineers who never settled permanently on planets and believed they had a mandate to forcibly reshape sapient life as they saw fit. By the end of the book, the Asteromorphs are... a ludicrously advanced civilization of bio-engineers who never settle permanently on planets and believe they have a mandate to forcibly reshape other human species as they see fit. They even [[http://www.sivatherium.narod.ru/library/Ramjet/pics/06.jpg look]] [[http://www.sivatherium.narod.ru/library/Ramjet/pics/47.jpg similar]]. Perhaps millions of years before they invaded humanity, the ancestors of the nomadic Qu fought their own wars against aliens and other Qu species, which forced them to become SpaceNomads and convinced them they had a responsibility to control other lifeforms to prevent the emergence of Gravital-like genocidal civilizations.civilizations.
[[WMG: The Qu and Asteromorphs made peace with each other at the end of the book.]]
At first glace, such a theory would contradict the Author's claims that the Qu have been subdued by the Asteromorphs, but as we see from later parts of the book, the Author never specified what happened to the Qu as he admits at the end of the book, he could likely be an UnreliableNarrator from his words "We are only beginning to piece the story together," while holding a human skull upside down. In hindsight, it would be immature of the Astermorphs for their age to destroy or enslave the Qu out of a petty grudge for a crime that happened over 100 million years before [[note]] Imagine [[HumanityOnTrial putting all of Earth's birds on trial for all the crimes their dinosaurian ancestors committed 100 million years ago for eating mammals that would one day become us]] just to reference how much of a waste of time and resources it would be to do so [[/note]]. Relating to the WMG above, the Qu and Asteromorphs became very similar to each other in terms of intelligence, body plan, and behavior. Maybe at some point during the conflict, a few Qu and Asteromorphs would realized that from reading each other's history books they steal, that they're NotSoDifferent and ended the war in peace, allying themselves to make sure that no genocidal civilization would emerge again.
[[WMG: The Qu and Asteromorphs made peace with each other at the end of the book.]]
At first glace, such a theory would contradict the Author's claims that the Qu have been subdued by the Asteromorphs, but as we see from later parts of the book, the Author never specified what happened to the Qu as he admits at the end of the book, he could likely be an UnreliableNarrator from his words "We are only beginning to piece the story together," while holding a human skull upside down. In hindsight, it would be immature of the Astermorphs for their age to destroy or enslave the Qu out of a petty grudge for a crime that happened over 100 million years before [[note]] Imagine [[HumanityOnTrial putting all of Earth's birds on trial for all the crimes their dinosaurian ancestors committed 100 million years ago for eating mammals that would one day become us]] just to reference how much of a waste of time and resources it would be to do so [[/note]]. Relating to the WMG above, the Qu and Asteromorphs became very similar to each other in terms of intelligence, body plan, and behavior. Maybe at some point during the conflict, a few Qu and Asteromorphs would realized that from reading each other's history books they steal, that they're NotSoDifferent and ended the war in peace, allying themselves to make sure that no genocidal civilization would emerge again.
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Changed line(s) 19 (click to see context) from:
The Qu were a ludicrously advanced civilization of bio-engineers who never settled permanently on planets and believed they had a mandate to forcibly reshape sapient life as they saw fit. By the end of the book, the Asteromorphs are... a ludicrously advanced civilization of bio-engineers who never settle permanently on planets and believe they have a mandate to forcibly reshape other human species as they see fit. They even [[http://www.sivatherium.narod.ru/library/Ramjet/pics/06.jpg look]] [[http://www.sivatherium.narod.ru/library/Ramjet/pics/47.jpg similar]]. Perhaps millions of years before they invaded humanity, the ancestors of the nomadic Qu fought their own wars against genocidal aliens and other Qu species, which forced them to become SpaceNomads and convinced them they had a responsibility to control other lifeforms to prevent the emergence of Gravital-like genocidal civilizations.
to:
The Qu were a ludicrously advanced civilization of bio-engineers who never settled permanently on planets and believed they had a mandate to forcibly reshape sapient life as they saw fit. By the end of the book, the Asteromorphs are... a ludicrously advanced civilization of bio-engineers who never settle permanently on planets and believe they have a mandate to forcibly reshape other human species as they see fit. They even [[http://www.sivatherium.narod.ru/library/Ramjet/pics/06.jpg look]] [[http://www.sivatherium.narod.ru/library/Ramjet/pics/47.jpg similar]]. Perhaps millions of years before they invaded humanity, the ancestors of the nomadic Qu fought their own wars against genocidal aliens and other Qu species, which forced them to become SpaceNomads and convinced them they had a responsibility to control other lifeforms to prevent the emergence of Gravital-like genocidal civilizations.
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Changed line(s) 19 (click to see context) from:
The Qu were a ludicrously advanced civilization of bio-engineers who never settled permanently on planets and believed they had a mandate to forcibly reshape sapient life as they saw fit. By the end of the book, the Asteromorphs are... a ludicrously advanced civilization of bio-engineers who never settle permanently on planets and believe they have a mandate to forcibly reshape other human species as they see fit. They even [[http://www.sivatherium.narod.ru/library/Ramjet/pics/06.jpg look]] [[http://www.sivatherium.narod.ru/library/Ramjet/pics/47.jpg similar]]. Perhaps millions of years before they invaded humanity, the ancestors of the nomadic Qu fought their own wars against genocidal aliens and other Qu species, which forced them to become SpaceNomads and convinced them they had a responsibility to control other lifeforms to prevent the emergence of Gravital-like genocidal threats.
to:
The Qu were a ludicrously advanced civilization of bio-engineers who never settled permanently on planets and believed they had a mandate to forcibly reshape sapient life as they saw fit. By the end of the book, the Asteromorphs are... a ludicrously advanced civilization of bio-engineers who never settle permanently on planets and believe they have a mandate to forcibly reshape other human species as they see fit. They even [[http://www.sivatherium.narod.ru/library/Ramjet/pics/06.jpg look]] [[http://www.sivatherium.narod.ru/library/Ramjet/pics/47.jpg similar]]. Perhaps millions of years before they invaded humanity, the ancestors of the nomadic Qu fought their own wars against genocidal aliens and other Qu species, which forced them to become SpaceNomads and convinced them they had a responsibility to control other lifeforms to prevent the emergence of Gravital-like genocidal threats.civilizations.
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Changed line(s) 19 (click to see context) from:
The Qu were a ludicrously advanced civilization of bio-engineers who never settled permanently on planets and believed they had a mandate to forcibly reshape sapient life as they saw fit. By the end of the book, the Asteromorphs are... a ludicrously advanced civilization of bio-engineers who never settle permanently on planets and believe they have a mandate to forcibly devolve or exterminate other human species as they see fit. They even [[http://www.sivatherium.narod.ru/library/Ramjet/pics/06.jpg look]] [[http://www.sivatherium.narod.ru/library/Ramjet/pics/47.jpg similar]]. Perhaps millions of years before they invaded humanity, the ancestors of the nomadic Qu fought their own wars against genocidal aliens and other Qu species, which forced them to become SpaceNomads and convinced them they had a responsibility to control other lifeforms to ensure the safety of life as a whole.
to:
The Qu were a ludicrously advanced civilization of bio-engineers who never settled permanently on planets and believed they had a mandate to forcibly reshape sapient life as they saw fit. By the end of the book, the Asteromorphs are... a ludicrously advanced civilization of bio-engineers who never settle permanently on planets and believe they have a mandate to forcibly devolve or exterminate reshape other human species as they see fit. They even [[http://www.sivatherium.narod.ru/library/Ramjet/pics/06.jpg look]] [[http://www.sivatherium.narod.ru/library/Ramjet/pics/47.jpg similar]]. Perhaps millions of years before they invaded humanity, the ancestors of the nomadic Qu fought their own wars against genocidal aliens and other Qu species, which forced them to become SpaceNomads and convinced them they had a responsibility to control other lifeforms to ensure prevent the safety emergence of life as a whole.Gravital-like genocidal threats.
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Changed line(s) 15 (click to see context) from:
The ending of the story claims that Humanity "re-encountered and subdued the Qu". It does not, however, say what the nature of the Qu's defeat was-- whether they were completely wiped out or, like the Machines, assimilated into intergalactic civilization. The Machines, after their defeat, were heavily altered by the Asteromorphs, both physically and mentally, so that they would never again pose a threat to humanity. Presumably something similar happened to the Qu, and the Narrator is descended from them.
to:
The ending of the story claims that Humanity "re-encountered and subdued the Qu". It does not, however, say what the nature of the Qu's defeat was-- whether they were completely wiped out or, like the Machines, assimilated into intergalactic civilization. The Machines, after their defeat, were heavily altered by the Asteromorphs, both physically and mentally, so that they would never again pose a threat to humanity. Presumably something similar happened to the Qu, and the Narrator is descended from them.them.
[[WMG: The Qu were once beings akin to the Asteromorphs]]
The Qu were a ludicrously advanced civilization of bio-engineers who never settled permanently on planets and believed they had a mandate to forcibly reshape sapient life as they saw fit. By the end of the book, the Asteromorphs are... a ludicrously advanced civilization of bio-engineers who never settle permanently on planets and believe they have a mandate to forcibly devolve or exterminate other human species as they see fit. They even [[http://www.sivatherium.narod.ru/library/Ramjet/pics/06.jpg look]] [[http://www.sivatherium.narod.ru/library/Ramjet/pics/47.jpg similar]]. Perhaps millions of years before they invaded humanity, the ancestors of the nomadic Qu fought their own wars against genocidal aliens and other Qu species, which forced them to become SpaceNomads and convinced them they had a responsibility to control other lifeforms to ensure the safety of life as a whole.
[[WMG: The Qu were once beings akin to the Asteromorphs]]
The Qu were a ludicrously advanced civilization of bio-engineers who never settled permanently on planets and believed they had a mandate to forcibly reshape sapient life as they saw fit. By the end of the book, the Asteromorphs are... a ludicrously advanced civilization of bio-engineers who never settle permanently on planets and believe they have a mandate to forcibly devolve or exterminate other human species as they see fit. They even [[http://www.sivatherium.narod.ru/library/Ramjet/pics/06.jpg look]] [[http://www.sivatherium.narod.ru/library/Ramjet/pics/47.jpg similar]]. Perhaps millions of years before they invaded humanity, the ancestors of the nomadic Qu fought their own wars against genocidal aliens and other Qu species, which forced them to become SpaceNomads and convinced them they had a responsibility to control other lifeforms to ensure the safety of life as a whole.
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Changed line(s) 15,17 (click to see context) from:
** The ending of the story claims that Humanity "re-encountered and subdued the Qu". It does not, however, say what the nature of the Qu's defeat was-- whether they were completely wiped out or, like the Machines, assimilated into intergalactic civilization. The Machines, after their defeat, were heavily altered by the Asteromorphs, both physically and mentally, so that they would never again pose a threat to humanity.
Presumably something similar happened to the Qu. They were allowed to keep their intelligence, and to participate in the galactic society, but they were given a new understanding of the horrors their ancestors committed.
Presumably something similar happened to the Qu. They were allowed to keep their intelligence, and to participate in the galactic society, but they were given a new understanding of the horrors their ancestors committed.
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[[WMG: The Narrator is one of the Qu]]
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[[WMG: The Narrator is one a descendant of the Qu]]
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With the Gravital's genocidal invasion, they're surprisingly fair. They point out that the Gravitals have their own reasons for doing their deeds rather then simply being evil, discuss that they're individuals and that most of them weren't involved in the genocide and seem slightly pitying about their subsequent discrimination. It doesn't gloss over their atrocities, but it does treat them with some degree of sympathy. At the very least, it's clinical.
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With the Gravital's genocidal invasion, they're surprisingly fair. They point out that the Gravitals have their own reasons for doing their deeds rather then simply being evil, discuss that they're individuals and that most of them weren't involved in the genocide and seem slightly pitying about their subsequent discrimination. It doesn't gloss over their atrocities, but it does treat them with some degree of sympathy.understanding. At the very least, it's clinical.
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The Gravitals acts were atrocities, sure, but alien ones from a long dead species. The Qu's acts are the sins of their own people, and they make sure to hammer home how horrific they are, to ensure that they never happen again.
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The Gravitals acts were atrocities, sure, but alien ones from a long dead species. The Qu's acts are the sins of their own
** The ending of the story claims that Humanity "re-encountered and subdued the Qu". It does not, however, say what the nature of the Qu's defeat was-- whether they were completely wiped out or, like the Machines, assimilated into intergalactic civilization. The Machines, after their defeat, were heavily altered by the Asteromorphs, both physically and mentally, so that they would never again pose a threat to humanity.
Presumably something similar happened to the Qu. They were allowed to keep their intelligence, and to participate in the galactic society, but they were given a new understanding of the horrors their ancestors committed.
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With the Gravital's genocidal invasion, they're surprisingly fair. They point out that the Gravital have their own reasons for doing their deeds rather then simply being evil, discuss that they're individuals and that most of them weren't involved in the genocide and seem slightly pitying about their subsequent discrimination. It doesn't gloss over their atrocities, but it does treat them with some degree of sympathy. At the very least, it's clinical.
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With the Gravital's genocidal invasion, they're surprisingly fair. They point out that the Gravital Gravitals have their own reasons for doing their deeds rather then simply being evil, discuss that they're individuals and that most of them weren't involved in the genocide and seem slightly pitying about their subsequent discrimination. It doesn't gloss over their atrocities, but it does treat them with some degree of sympathy. At the very least, it's clinical.
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Added DiffLines:
[[WMG: The Narrator is one of the Qu]]
Compare how they talk about the Qu vs the Gravitals.
With the Gravital's genocidal invasion, they're surprisingly fair. They point out that the Gravital have their own reasons for doing their deeds rather then simply being evil, discuss that they're individuals and that most of them weren't involved in the genocide and seem slightly pitying about their subsequent discrimination. It doesn't gloss over their atrocities, but it does treat them with some degree of sympathy. At the very least, it's clinical.
With the Qu, however, that sympathy vanishes. They explicitly refer to them as monsters- while the Gravital are "not evil from their perspective", the Qu have "blind, unquestioning dogma". It describes their atrocities not in the clinical way that it does the Gravital's, but in a way that clearly frames them as vicious monsters.
Now, this might be explained as the Narrator being human and thus taking the human viewpoint, but unless they're radically lying, that's impossible. But what else might explain it is ''guilt''.
If the Narrator is a Qu, or at least one of their descendants, then they might well look on what their ancestors did with horror, seeing it far worse then the actions of an unrelated species- actions which, indirectly, were the result of their own after all.
The Gravitals acts were atrocities, sure, but alien ones from a long dead species. The Qu's acts are the sins of their own people, and they make sure to hammer home how horrific they are, to ensure that they never happen again.
Compare how they talk about the Qu vs the Gravitals.
With the Gravital's genocidal invasion, they're surprisingly fair. They point out that the Gravital have their own reasons for doing their deeds rather then simply being evil, discuss that they're individuals and that most of them weren't involved in the genocide and seem slightly pitying about their subsequent discrimination. It doesn't gloss over their atrocities, but it does treat them with some degree of sympathy. At the very least, it's clinical.
With the Qu, however, that sympathy vanishes. They explicitly refer to them as monsters- while the Gravital are "not evil from their perspective", the Qu have "blind, unquestioning dogma". It describes their atrocities not in the clinical way that it does the Gravital's, but in a way that clearly frames them as vicious monsters.
Now, this might be explained as the Narrator being human and thus taking the human viewpoint, but unless they're radically lying, that's impossible. But what else might explain it is ''guilt''.
If the Narrator is a Qu, or at least one of their descendants, then they might well look on what their ancestors did with horror, seeing it far worse then the actions of an unrelated species- actions which, indirectly, were the result of their own after all.
The Gravitals acts were atrocities, sure, but alien ones from a long dead species. The Qu's acts are the sins of their own people, and they make sure to hammer home how horrific they are, to ensure that they never happen again.
