Slan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Slan is also the name of a character in Berserk (manga).
Slan is the name of a type of fictional race of superbeings in the 1946 novel of the same name by A. E. van Vogt. They are named after their alleged creator, Samuel Lann. The protagonist of the novel is a Slan named Jommy Cross.
Slans are the product of human evolution and have the psychic abilities to read minds and are super-intelligent. They possess near limitless stamina, "nerves of steel", and superior strength and speed. When Slans are ill or seriously injured, they go into a healing trance automatically.
There are two kinds of Slans. One has tendrils and can read the minds of ordinary humans and telepathically communicate with other Slans. The tendrils are hidden but rise when the Slan is engaged in telepathic activity. These Slans are hunted to near extinction. The other type of Slan is tendrilless. They are still super intelligent but do not have psychic capabilities, only the ability to hide their thoughts from the first type of Slan. Kier Gray is the leader of the human society and promises to exterminate the Slans. As the novel begins, Jommy Cross (a telepathic Slan of the first type) is brought with his mother to the capital, Centropolis. They are both discovered, and Jommy's mother is killed before his eyes. Jommy is only 9 years old and manages to escape. Jommy Cross is not only the heir to the brilliant inventions of his father, but he represents the last hope of his race to save it from genocide. Because of the importance of his mission, he is opposed by various enemies. Jommy seeks to destroy Kier and in confronting him discovers a terrible secret.
Kevin J. Anderson is currently writing a sequel to Slan entitled Slan Hunters, based on Vogt's unfinished draft.
[edit] Fandom
In science fiction fandom a slogan quickly developed, "Fans are slans", comparing the perceived greater intelligence and imaginative capability of science fiction fans with the supernatural abilities of slans in the novel. The term has become a symbol of fandom elitism in general, along with the related term mundane for non-fans.
