Editing User:Rasarr/Skyward Universe

[[File:Skyward UK Hardcover.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Cover of the British edition of ''[[Skyward]]'']]

{/{uncanonical}/}

'''Skyward Universe''' and '''cytoverse''' both refer to the as-of-yet-unnamed universe that serves as the setting of ''[[Defending Elysium]]'' and the [[Skyward (series)|Skyward series]].{{wob ref|11965}} It's our own world, albeit in the far future; as such, it's not part of the [[cosmere]]. Alongside [[Earth (Skyward)|Earth]] and humanity, it contains numerous spacefaring species, all of which share a magic system known as [[cytonics]].

== Underlying mechanics ==
The Skyward Universe is a setting possessing highly advanced technology, from laser weapons and anti-gravity to lifelike holograms and atmospheric envelopes capable of keeping entire space stations breathing.{{book ref|sky2|3}}{{book ref|elysium}} Vast empires, encompassing various species, spread across the stars, connected by faster-than-light ships. Ranging from grand merchantmen to small starfighters, those vessels are propelled by biological FTL system, based on two fundamental aspects of the universe: the [[nowhere]] and [[cytonics]].{{book ref|sky2|34}}

=== Nowhere ===
{{for|Nowhere}}

The cytoverse is comprised of two connected realities -- our own and '''nowhere''', an interdimensional "world" with strange relation to time and space. Little is known of nowhere's appearance, though it is home to a type of beings called [[delver]]s, as well as a mineral called the [[acclivity stone]].{{book ref|sky2|25}} Regular rules of physics do not apply there completely, and everything to come from nowhere possesses extraordinary properties. The best-known among them is acclivity stone, which is used to counteract gravity and thus provide lift to all spaceships and space stations.{{book ref|sky2|7}}

The easiest way for most people to enter nowhere is through a '''nowhere portal''', a stable wormhole leading to it and back. Such portals can be found on many worlds, and though the markings on them indicate that they were made rather than arising naturally, it's unknown who created them. The portals let both people and equipment to be taken through, which allows for mining acclitivity stone.{{book ref|sky2|25}}

=== Cytonics ===
[[File:Spensa by jurassicpencil.jpg|thumb|right|200px|<center><small>by {{a|jurassicpencil}}</small></center> [[Spensa]] and [[Doomslug]], a sapient and a non-sapient cytonic]]
{{for|Cytonics}}

Apart from the portals, nowhere can also be accessed by people called '''cytonics'''. Any species, including non-sapient ones, is capable of developing cytonic abilities; how they first appear is undetermined, but once they do show up, they are passed down to the original cytonic's descendants. They allow for more than just peering into nowhere -- "cytonics" refers to a whole host of psychic powers.{{book ref|elysium}}{{book ref|sky2|1}}

Cytonic abilities include, among others, telepathy, mind swapping, illusions and teleportation. Most, if not all of them require that the cytonic connect themselves to nowhere. Teleportation in particular utilizes nowhere heavily, as the body of the cytonic, along with whatever else they're carrying, travels through nowhere to its destination. Though time appears to pass for the cytonic, to others, the jump happens instantly.{{book ref|sky1|53}}{{book ref|sky1|54}}

In fact, both teleportation and telepathy work instantaneously, and thus faster-than-light. As such, they are the basis of the two most crucial technologies in the universe: cytonic communication and FTL travel.{{book ref|elysium}} All FTL-capable starships in the Skyward Universe travel using cytonics, with non-sapient slugs known as the [[taynix]] serving as living hyperdrives.{{book ref|sky2|34}} Moreover, cytonics can be shared with the rest of the populace, as cytonics can be augmented with mechanical equipment; that's how a single creature can carry an entire ship across the stars. Conversely, machines can also be built to utilize nowhere, albeit to a lesser extent than living creatures.{{book ref|sky2|18}}

=== Delvers ===
{{for|Delver}}

Cytonics are not without their dangers. Chief among those are '''delvers''', the inhabitants of nowhere. Delvers despise both radio signals and, more importantly, cytonics. When sufficiently agitated, they can transport themselves into the physical world. A single delver can be as large as a moon, and possesses a number of deadly powers, including the ability to create and launch meteors, and the capacity to destroy any living being they pass through. This makes them extremely dangerous, and has led to extreme limits being put on the use of cytonics.{{book ref|sky2|4}}{{book ref|sky2|10}}

== History ==
=== Discovery of cytonics and First Contact ===
Across the known universe, all sapient species developed [[cytonic]] abilities prior to discovering advanced technology; as such, they would often abandon further pursuit of conventional sciences in favour of the psionic powers. Humanity is one exception to that. Earth was already advanced technologically by the time the [[Phone Company]] began developing cyto, a cybernetics-based method of telepathic linking. Those early experiments were unsuccessful, but they were enough to attract the attention of the spacefaring [[tenasi]]. After a misunderstanding led to the tenasi scout being shot down by US military, the Phone Company negotiated more peacable reactions, and, as a result, became the sole point of contact between humans and aliens.{{book ref|elysium}}

From then on out, humanity spread across the Solar System, watched over by the Phone Company. Some of its employees believed that the other races of the universe needed to be protected from humankind and its barbaric ways until the time was right for them to join the truly civillized societies. However, it eventually became apparent that the aliens' peace came at a cost -- they would imprison their dissidents and cut them off from cytonics. In the aftermath of this revelation, a PC operative named [[Jason Write]] decided to share the FTL technology, which the Company had developed, but kept hidden, with the rest of the populace.{{book ref|elysium}}

=== Human Wars ===
{{for|Human Wars}}

At some point, possibly decades or centuries afterwards, humanity, now an interstellar power, attacked other sapient races, seemingly aiming to conquer them. This was the start of a series of three conflicts known as the [[Human Wars]].{{book ref|sky2|10}} In the first war, humanity conquered several species, including the [[kitsen]], while being allied with other aliens, [[figment]]s.{{book ref|sky2|26}}{{book ref|sky2|35}} 

The war ended in humanity's failure, but soon after, the second conflict began. This time, humanity sought to weaponize [[delver]]s, the dwellers of the [[nowhere]], but constructing massive laboratories on abandoned planets circling dying stars, with [[Detritus]] being one such world.{{book ref|sky2|4}} However, they lost control of the delvers, and thirteen of the creatures rampaged across the galaxy for the decades to come. Even after they faded, their presence became a constant threat, leading to many cytonic technologies being abandoned.{{book ref|sky2|10}}

Despite this, at some point afterwards, humanity attacked again, though not all of them were involved in the conflict this time.{{book ref|sky2|23}} Nonetheless, all humans became targets for the newly-formed alien alliance, the [[Superiority]], and were consequently defeated.{{book ref|sky1|epilogue}} 

At some point, either during or between those wars, the [[Earth (Skyward)|Old Earth]], humanity's homeworld, vanished.{{book ref|sky2|18}} It's unclear how it happened, or whether this means it can't be found or if it's no longer physically present within the Solar System.

=== The Superiority and human preserves ===
In the century since the Third Human War, the Superiority, led by five species who considered themselves to be of primary intelligence, grew to become the primary political power in the galaxy. They achieved this by monopolizing both safe faster-than-light travel and FTL communications, and keeping their mechanics secret.{{book ref|sky2|24}} Many other species, such as the kitsen, joined the Superiority with secondary citizenship, which limited their rights within the empire.{{book ref|sky2|15}} Others, like the [[UrDail]], remain independent, though still reliant on the Superiority for trade.{{book ref|sky2|9}}

Of all the species, humanity had its rights curtailed the most. The remnants were mostly chased down into solitary planets called preserves, and kept down there by the Superiority bureau named the Department of Protective Services, with occassional missions sent out to suppress them and keep them near-extinct.{{book ref|sky2|19}}{{book ref|sky1|55}} However, in the recent years, many began to worry about humanity escaping to wreck havoc once more. While such fears are often stoked by the Department of Protective Services to aid their political causes, the people of the [[Detritus]] preserve did manage to leave their home planet, and figure out a way to travel beyond their star system.{{book ref|sky2|19}}

== Inhabitants ==
The cytoverse is inhabited by numerous sapient species of varied shapes, sizes and configurations. Most appear to be roughly humanoid, walking upright with an even number of limbs. Their sized vary, with the smallest being only a handspan tall, while the largest are bigger than humans.{{book ref|sky2|13}} Despite apparent physical similarities, the various species can differ vastly in their biology; for example, the [[dione]] can change their biological sex during their lifetime, while the [[varvax]] are actually small creatures possessing large exoskeletons.{{book ref|sky2|12}} Nonetheless, it seems that some species -- such as humans and the [[UrDail]] -- are capable of producing offspring together.{{book ref|sky2|36}}

Apart from the humanoid aliens, the Skyward universe is also home to vastly different ones. Those range from plausibly biological, such as a species resembling spike-covered balloons,{{book ref|sky2|13}} to [[figment]]s, which are invisible, sapient smells.{{book ref|sky2|20}}

=== Known species ===
[[File:Alanik by Bernardo Curvello.jpg|thumb|right|200px|<center><small>by {{a|Bernardo Curvello}}</small></center> [[Alanik]], an [[UrDail]] ]]

;Superiority leaders

{{columns|count=2|
* [[varvax]] (often called "Krell" in ''[[Skyward (series)|Skyward]]'')
* [[tenasi]]
* [[dione]]
* [[heklo]]
* [[cambric]]
}}

;Other species
{{columns|count=3|
* humans
* [[figment]]s
* [[delver]]s
* [[kitsen]]
* [[taynix]] (non-sapient)
* [[Burl (species)|burl]]
* [[Cormax drones]]
* [[solquis]]
* [[wrexians]]
* [[UrDail]]
* [[hommar]]
}}

=== Human influence ===
Human culture has had a vast impact on other sapient species. This seems to have began even before the Human Wars, with [[kitsen]] using the Japanese term ''[[wikipedia:Daimyō|daimyo]]'' to refer to their leaders.{{book ref|sky2|26}} However, it was during the Wars that humanity truly put their mark on the universe. Human languages -- mainly English, Spanish, Hindi and Mandarin -- are to this day carried by all translator pins, and serve as a common tongue for all species of the galaxy.{{book ref|sky2|10}} The [[UrDail]], which saw extensive contact with humans, have been impacted even further, with their native tongue coming to resemble English.{{book ref|sky2|8}}

Humanity has also left their mark on the universe in the form of [[delver]]s, whom they've brough forth during the Second Human War, leading to the drastic decrease in the use of [[cytonics]]. This, alongside the history of conflict, is one of the reasons why they're so feared in the present day. This extends even to those trapped in the "preserve" planets, with many afraid that humans would one day break out and go to war again. Those fears are often stoked by Superiority's Department of Protective Services, especially whenever they desire a bigger budget.{{book ref|sky2|19}}

=== The Superiority ===
{{for|Superiority}}

After the Third Human War, the Superiority became the primary political power of the universe. It is comprised of numerous species, though only five -- varvax, tenasi, dione, heklo and cambric -- lead the government. Numerous others have either primary or secondary citizenship. Whether a species is allowed to join the Superiority depends on whether they exhibit the so-called primary intelligence. This appears to refer to how aggressive a species is, with only the most peaceful once allowed to join, so as to not corrupt the current society.{{book ref|sky2|10}} There are also other conditions, such as converting to a democratic government.{{book ref|sky2|13}}

While the Superiority does not directly rule over every species, it does exert indirect power over them. This is done though absolute control over faster-than-light travel and communications, as the government has effectively suppress all information about it, making themselves indispensable to interstellar travel and trade. As a result, they possess a relatively weak military force, since all they need to do is cut any world they wish off the FTL grid to make them a non-issue.{{book ref|sky2|10}}

== Development ==
[[File:DefendingElysium.jpg|thumb|right|200px|<center><small>by [[Dragos Jieanu]]</small></center> Cover of the digital version of ''[[Defending Elysium]]'']]

=== ''Defending Elysium'' ===
Brandon created ''[[Defending Elysium]]'' in 2003; it was the last story he'd written prior to selling ''[[Elantris]]'' and thus kickstarting the [[cosmere]]. Though ''Defending Elysium'' won a honorable mention at the Writers of the Future contest in 2003, it wouldn't see the light of day until 2008, when, after substantial re-editing, it won the first prize at [https://renoir.upc.edu/brgf/cficcio//premi_upc/angles/2007/dades_edicio.php UPC Science Fiction Award] in Spain. It was subsequently published in [https://www.asimovs.com Asimov's Science Fiction]'s October/November 2008 issue, and then released publicly on Brandon's website in 2009.{{bws ref|/short-fiction-non-cosmere/#DEFENDINGELYSIUM|About Defending Elysium|date=01-01-2020}}

=== The travels of Spensa, space pilot ===
As with most things Brandon had been writing at the time, he planned to create more works in ''Defending Elysium'''s setting. His intention was always to evolve it, and see how the universe changed over time. Over the next fifteen years, many of those plans were abandoned, while others rose up in their place. However, [[Spensa]] was not initially part of the setting.{{wob ref|13462}} 

Spensa was conceived as a pilot character from [[Mistborn (series)#Era 4: Third Mistborn Trilogy|Mistborn Era Four]] (the space-age of the cosmere).{{wob ref|10943}} Her particular plot was not developed beyond the concept of "the travels of Spensa, space pilot".{{wob ref|10948}} However, Brandon was most interested in a particular technological aspect of her setting -- the biological faster-than-light travel system that would eventually be folded into [[cytonics]]. As the bio-FTL did not fit with the cosmere, Spensa was cut out of Mistborn Era Four and transplanted into the world of ''Defending Elysium''.{{wob ref|10943}}{{wob ref|11965}} Her story morphed into "a girl and her spaceship", and became ''[[Skyward]]'', which came out in 2018.{{wob ref|11618}}

=== ''The Eyes'' and future stories ===
It wasn't just the cosmere that Skyward Universe borrowed elements from. In 2016, Brandon began writing a novella titled ''The Eyes'', based around the concept of answering the [[wikipedia:Fermi Paradox|Fermi Paradox]]. It was never finished, although the first chapter became a Patreon reward for $10 patrons at the time.{{sots ref|2016}} The story of ''The Eyes'' was eventually absorbed into the setting wholesale, although in its current form, it's not fully canon-compliant. Nonetheless, some of its characters are still around by the time of ''[[Skyward]]'', and one of its alien races made an appearance in ''[[Starsight]]''.{{wob ref|12197}} It's unclear which aliens those would be, though they might be the [[figment]]s or the [[dione]], as both are introduced in that book and feature in it prominently. Considering the title, [[delver]]s may also originate from ''The Eyes''.

While so far, the future of Skyward Universe includes only the final two books in the Skyward Series, Brandon does have some ideas for more stories in the setting. In particular, he remains interested in the concept of biological FTL.{{wob ref|11965}}

== Bibliography of the Skyward Universe ==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; width:100%;"
{{row| Published Works of the Skyward Universe | pre=! colspan=3 style="background:#CCCCFF; font-weight:bold; text-align:center" {{!}} }}
{{row| Publication Year | Title | Series | pre=! style="font-weight: bold;" {{!}} }}
|-
! rowspan=1 |2009 (digital)
| [[Defending Elysium]]
| standalone
|-
! rowspan=1 |2018
| [[Skyward]]
| Skyward #1
|-
! rowspan=1 |2019
| [[Starsight]]
| Skyward #2
|}

=== Forthcoming works ===
The following are confirmed upcoming works set in the Skyward Universe:

* '''Skyward 3''' - the third book in the [[Skyward (series)|Skyward series]], tentatively titled ''Nowhere''.
* '''Skyward 4''' - the fourth and final book in the Skyward series.

== Notes ==
<references />

{/{Defending Elysium}/}
{/{skyward}/}