Psychlo
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Psychlo are the most prominent alien race in L. Ron Hubbard's science fiction novel, Battlefield Earth. They are a warlike species having conquered much of the known universe. The primary goal of this expansion is resource allocation. Their planet is honeycombed with mining tunnels.
[edit] Psychlo anatomy
The Psychlo are a humanoid bipedal species. Their primary distinction from humans lies in their massive bodies. Due to the high gravity of the Psychlo homeworld (also termed "Psychlo,") they are usually around nine feet tall, although some smaller-sized Psychlos measure only seven feet. They have furry bodies and large hands with talons instead of fingernails. In the place of eyebrows are mobile bones that likewise portray their facial expressions.
Psychlos are further distinguished in that their hands consist of eleven digits; five fingers on one hand and six on the other. The author contends that because of their extra digit, the Psychlos naturally developed a "base 11" positional notation system, the mathematics of which is the basis of the teleportation technology that enabled them to dominate the galaxy.
[edit] See also
- Battlefield Earth (novel) (with discussion that the name "Psychlo" may derive from Scientology's disdain for psychiatrists)
- Battlefield Earth (film)
