|
A bioship is a type of spacecraft or starship described in science fiction. Bioships differ from other types of spacecraft in that they are composed, either predominantly or totally, of biological components, rather than being constructed from manufactured materials. Because of this, they nearly always have a distinctively organic look. Bioships are usually quite powerful, and can often regenerate or heal damaged parts. Some bioships are intelligent or sentient, and some are considered to be lifeforms. Like most organic beings, many bioships contain large amounts of "scaffolding" materials to keep their shape, such as the xylem in trees or bone and chitin in animals. ==In literature== * In the science fiction short story "Specialist" by Robert Sheckley, published in 1953 in Galaxy magazine, it is revealed that many galactic races are actually capable of symbiotic cooperation to become bioships, with each race forming a different part. Earth, apparently, is one of the planets inhabited by creatures that are supposed to function as FTL drives (Pushers), and, it is stated that all the conflicts and discontent of humanity are due to the fact that, while they have matured, they have nowhere to apply their true purpose. This story is perhaps the first mention of a bioship in science fiction.〔Noel Keyes, editor ''Contact: Man Faces Extraterrestrial Life'' New York:1963 Paperback Library, Inc. "Specialist" by Robert Sheckley (1953) Pages 153-166〕 * Volume 322 of the German Perry Rhodan magazine series, first published in November 1967, marks another very early appearance of the bioship concept in science fiction. The Dolans are powerful bioengineered combat spaceships that are grown from the same synthetic genetic material as their extraterrestrial commanders.〔(Perrypedia vol. 322: Ein Gigant erwacht ) (A Giant Awakes) (German)〕〔(Schematic of a Dolan ) (Archived )〕 Different types of bioships are a recurrent feature in later stages of the Perry Rhodan universe. * ''Dirty Pair'': Bioships are used for interstellar transport in the parts of the comics series authored by Adam Warren. * ''The Night's Dawn Trilogy'': the Edenist Voidhawk and Mercenary Blackhawk are both advanced bioships (the latter being a genetic tailoring for combat of the former). Both types employ mental bonding to the captain. In the case of Voidhawks this is done by both the craft and captain gestating together and maintaining mental contact during their formative years. Blackhawks however are purchased as eggs and are bonded to the buyer who will become captain when the Blackhawk matures.〔Hamilton, Peter F. (1996). ''The Reality Dysfunction.'' Pan Books (UK).〕 * In the ''Orion's Arm'' Universe, bioships are the result of the convergence between biotech and drytech.〔(Orion's Arm Bioship Article )〕 * The novels ''The Genesis Quest'' and ''Second Genesis'' by Donald Moffitt describe a starship called Yggdrasil, made from a semi-sentient Dyson tree combined with a Bussard ramjet. * The Muir Templars in the Hyperion novels use giant Sequoia trees retrofitted as living spaceships. * ''Star Wars'': In ''The New Jedi Order'' series of novels, the Yuuzhan Vong used bioships made of yorik, a type of coral, because they viewed inorganic technology as immoral and blasphemous. The living planet Zonama Sekot featured first in the book Rogue Planet, also had bioships. Also in the Star Wars series, there was a living ship that was simply called Ship, which had fused with Pilot, the only survivor of a biotoxin attack, to become one being, playing games with itself for amusement during its thousands of years in the Great Void. It had extremely powerful weapons. * In George R. R. Martin's ''Wild Card'' series the character Dr. Tachyon arrives on Earth in a living starship. * The Xeelee series by Stephen Baxter describe an alien species called Splines, which are sentient, spherical star faring beings which hire themselves out to other aliens as transports without any seeming allegiance to any one race except themselves. They have various sophisticated features including a biological beacon which can be worn as an armband and activated to be picked up from apparently anywhere in space. Entry and exit from Splines are conducted through orifices in them and they can be remodeled by gouging out their body to create room for people, weapon implants, intrasystem flitters etc., Mechanism of propulsion is unknown though. *In Octavia E. Butler's Lilith's Brood series (also known as Xenogenesis) the alien Oankali have a symbiotic relationship with their ship/s. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Bioship」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|