Kindred Spirits Glossary

A Kindred Spirits Glossary

A glossary of terms used in the Kindred Spirits sequence of stories. Bold characters indicate an independent entry. Beware of a few spoilers - although these have been avoided wherever possible.

If you notice any words in the sequence which you feel need explanation here please let me know at the email address at the bottom of this page.

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Abaya Long black robe often worn by Islamic women as an aid to modesty.

Adonisia Member planet of the Galactic Federation. Adonisia is a close ally of the Tomorrow People, an alliance cemented by the marriage of the TP Carol to Narcissa of Adonisia.

AE Suit Artificial Environment suit. Thermally and atmospherically regulating, incorporates jaunting belt and spectra shift.

Air Reprocessor Device which filters and cleans air in a closed environment, simultaneously converting carbon dioxide into oxygen.

AMRE The Ambridge Military Research Institute in England.

Alliance See Resolutions - Paradigm Shift for explanation. None provided here to avoid major spoiler.

Anthropology The study of mankind, specifically its biological and social characteristics and evolution.

Autosomes Chromosomes (structures of genetic code), excluding the X and Y chromosomes which govern biological gender.

Babouschka Old woman in Russian folklore who gave gifts to children in the winter. Traditionally, she failed to accompany the three mages to visit the infant Christ and now wanders the world looking for the Child, while helping other children in need.

Barlumin Rare mineral. Emits a radiation that inhibits mental powers. One of the few known seams in this galaxy is in Scotland. Exposure is extremely painful for Tomorrow People.

BESA The Bosnian Emergency Security Agency. Intelligence service established in reponse to the Mass Breakout.

Bosnia-Herzegovina Conflict Civil war in the process of the break up of Yugoslavia. Bosnia was invaded by Serbia and a number of different ethnic groups were 'cleansed' from the area.

Breakout The natural process whereby a Tomorrow Person's mind becomes opened to their mental abilities. Can be dangerous if unassisted.

The Bumps 'The Bumps' is a procedure whereby a birthday child is lifted by their arms and legs and bounced once up and down for each year of their age.

Camps Centres run by Saps in which Tomorrow People are confined under the influence of Barlumin radiation.

Dining Out A formal dinner in a military unit designed to encourage camaraderie and fellowship. May include ceremonies to honour one's country, departed comrades or individual achievements. Often celebrate the departure or retirement of one or more officers.

Eternal Order The Eternal Order of Guardians were established at some point in the future to monitor and maintain the integrity of the time lanes. Also known as Time Guardians.

Evolution The gradual development of one species from another as the result of genetic mutation and survival of the fittest.

Fjord Narrow, deep inlet on a coastline, originally Norwegian.

Galactic Federation An alliance of telepathically gifted species of generally advanced scientific development. Governed from the Trig. Member races include Adonisia, Sophostria, Pralex 6 and Guagar-K.

General Assembly The principle decision making body of the United Nations in which each member nation is represented and granted one vote.

Grand Central Station The busiest railway terminal on the planet Earth. Located in New York, close to the United Nations headquarters building.

Great Emergence The coming to prominance of Homo novus on Earth sometime between the 20th and 26th centuries. Predicted by the Time Guardian Peter.

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Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Novel by the science fiction writer Douglas Adams. The eponymous guide is famous for having the words 'Dont Panic' in "large, friendly letters" on the cover.

Homo erectus Now extinct species of humanity notable for its ability for tool usage and upright gait. Believed to have evolved into modern Homo sapiens.

Homo neanderthalensis Now extinct species of humanity notable for its adaption to the cold, predominantly in skeletal robustness. Skilled manufacturers of flint tools, with a brain case larger the modern Homo sapiens, this species buried its dead ceromoniously.

Homo novus Alternate name for Tomorrow People.

Homo superior The scientific name for Tomorrow People.

Homo sapiens The scientific name for conventional modern humanity.

Hypnagoic Inducive of, or leading to, sleep.

Jaunt Teleport. Disppear in one place and reapper in another having passed through hyperspace. Term adopted from the novel Tiger, Tiger by Alfred Bester

Jaunting Belt Device to assist navigation and power while jaunting.

John The first Tomorrow Person to break out on Earth and make contact with the Galactic Federation. Based in London.

Jultomten Sprite who gives gifts at Christmas time in Swedish folklore.

Kalinar 'Flying saucer' shaped space vehicle used by member nations of the Galactic Federation.

Karma Concept in Hinduism/Buddhism decribing the belief that any action leads to inevitable consequences which may be experienced in this life or the next.

Kinetic Energy The form of energy which describes the intensity of both motion and heat.

Lab Base of operations and community centre used secretly by Tomorrow People. Often include dormitories, common rooms, equipment storage and sometimes schools.

Lab, Luna Evacuation and refugee centre founded in response to the threat to, and destruction of, other Labs. On the dark side of the Moon.

Lab, Major Regional headquarters, usually base to large numbers of Tomorrow People and some administrative authority. Responsible for coordinating a number of sattelite minor Labs. Major Labs include London, Toronto, California, Chicago, Melbourne and Paris.

Lab, Minor (or Local Lab) Small Tomorrow People base. Usually look to Major Labs for policy and also inter-Lab contact.

Link Table Device in Lab used to facilitate mental contact between Tomorrow People. Incorporates mental energy boosters.

Malthus, Operation Project to develop genetically engineered children capable of infiltrating Labs and affecting others with a retrovirus inhibiting breakout.

Malthus, Thomas Economist (1766-1834). Theorised that a population grows exponentially until checked by catastrophic collapse.

Mass Breakout Exponentially accelerating phenomenon whereby large numbers of young people are simultaneously developing mental powers. Began in 2008. Hidden from general public, recognised by governments.

Mauna Loa Volcano on Hawaii. The tallest mountain on Earth if measured from the ocean bed.

Metastable Equilibrium A state of balance which, while stable for short periods, is transient and preceeds change, sometimes dramatic, once disturbed.

Moucharabiah Enclosed balcony which enables one to watch the street without being seen in turn. Common in Islamic architecture for the protection of women's modesty.

Mutation The process of variation in genetic material by random substitution of one genetic base by another, the cumulative effects of which lead to alteration in expressed characteristics.

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NAAFI 'Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes': a civilian organisation which provides canteens and shops for British military personnel. Colloquially, canteens run by this organisation.

Novus Politically correct term for a Tomorrow Person (derived from Homo Novus).

Novus Committee Joint TP-Sap committee formed to deal with TP relocation and reconciliation problems after the Great Emergence.

One Mind Governing body of the Galactic Federation comprising a gestalt of representatives from the telepathic races of the Federation.

Oort Cloud Hypothetical region of ice and asteroidal material forming a shell well beyond the orbit of Pluto. This debris from the formation of the solar system provides a reservoir of comets which fall towards the Sun.

Pandemic Infectious desease outbreak more severe and widespread than an epidemic, usually covering a wide area or even spread worldwide.

Paradigm A set of assumptions and concepts that define a world view - a model defining the understanding of the nature of reality for those in a given group.

Peerie Member planet of the Galactic Federation, native telepaths are known as the Vesh.

Pele The fire goddess sacred on Hawaii and believed to reside in the volcano Kilauea.

Père Noël Santa Claus in French

Photosensitive Reacting strongly to light, particularly with headaches or skin burns.

Pinewood Lake Remote lake in Sasketchewan, Canada, and also the nearby town. Home to Travin Harkness, and later Josh.

Psionic Relating to mental abilities such as telepathy.

Pyrrhic Victory A victory gained at too great a cost; in allusion to the exclamation attributed to Pyrrhus after the battle of Asculum in Apulia (in which he routed the Romans, but with the loss of the flower of his army), 'One more such victory and we are lost'

Regora Planet, non-Galactic Federation and non-telepathic. Ruled by a heriditary monarchy but moving towards democracy after an encounter with the Tomorrow People in the 1970s.

Remote Pin-sized, flying cameras, used by the Tomorrow People for intelligence gathering and monitoring the Camps.

Retrovirus An RNA virus often used to carry new genetic information into animal cells.

Ripper Ray Powerful weapon developed by the Thargon Empire and installed on their 'Thick Ships'. Capable of vapourising vessels or large tracks of countryside.

Saiyonara Planet with historical connection to the Tomorrow People.

Saps Term for Homo sapiens, used by Tomorrow People. May be derogatory.

Scree Loose rock fragments, often forming a slippery and unstable slope on mountain sides.

Secretary General Nominal head of the United Nations organisation, with the task of furthering its aims through diplomacy and guidance.

Security Council Group of nations within the United Nations organisation charged with peacekeeping. Comprises five permanent and ten elected member nations.

Serpent's Tooth Nickname for the drug ST4. Quotation from Shakespeare: `How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is, To have a thankless child', King Lear, Act I, scene iv

Sodium Pentathol 'Truth drug'. Relaxant drug often used during interrogation to lower inhibitions and break concentration.

Sophostria Member planet of the Galactic Federation. Population of non-corporeal entities with a leaning towards philosophy.

Sorsons Empire of non-telepathic individuals. Aggressive expansionists and involved in a long term conflict first with the Thargon Empire and later the Galactic Federation. Now confined to their solar system by the Federation.

Spanish Flu Variant of the influenza virus which caused a global pandemic in 1917-1919 and is credited with killing more people than the First World War did. Believe to be derived from an avian flu varient, it primarily affected the young and healthy.

Species Group of organisms with sufficient genetic simularity to interbreed and produce fertile offspring and distinct from any other species.

Spectra Shift Mentally powered light manipulation device. Can be used to camoflage the user. Incorporated in AE suits.

ST4 Chemical compound developed by Operation Malthus to activate the Malthus retrovirus.

Stara Majka 'Old Mother' in Bosnian.

Steven Steven Jameson, fourth Tomorrow Person to break out.

Stockholm Syndrome The tendency in victims of kidnapping to come to identify with their captors - the formation of an emotional bond as a means to endure violence or abuse. Named after the behaviour of four employees held captive for four days in a Swedish bank in 1973.

Stun Gun Non-lethal weapon which renders its target unconscious. Invented and used by Tomorrow People.

Synaptrol Drug that produces total physical paralysis, including of involuntary muscles. Victims must be kept on total life support.

Telekinesis The ability to move an object without physical contact.

Telepathy The ability to communicate at a distance by thought alone.

Teleportation Also known as jaunting.

Tharga Empire of non-telepathic, bronze-skinned Thargons. Highly developed sense of honor. Non-Galactic Federation. Long time enemies of the Sorson Empire.

Thargons Inhabitants of the planet Tharga.

TIM Artificial intelligence, constructed by John, initiated by the Galactic Federation. Assists and cares for the Tomorrow People. Based in London Lab.

Time Guardians See Eternal Order

Time Lanes The pathways between different points in time, connected via hyperspace. Can only be navigated by psionic beings. Monitored by the Eternal Order.

Timus Irnok Mosta Senior diplomat and current chair-being of the Galactic Federation. One of 64 'clone-brothers'. Ally of the Tomorrow People. See also Transcendent Integrated Mind

TK An abbreviation of telekinesis.

Towb Veiled headscarf worn for modesty by Islamic women.

Tomorrow People The next stage of human evolution. Telepathic, telekinetic and able to jaunt.

TP Abbreviation of Tomorrow People.

Transcendent Integrated Mind Biotronic intelligence housed in and running the Trig and generated from the same genetic material as Timus and TIM. The source material was selected to present the best qualities of the Federation's founder members.

Trig A city-sized space station accomodating representatives from the member nations of the Galactic Federation.

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United Nations International organisation which aims to promote cooperation between nations on Earth, and to help develop a united approach to issues which transcend national borders.

United Nations Headquarters Large building in central New York, which houses the United Nations organisation and specifically meeting chambers for the General Assembly and Security Council.

Watchdogs Network of satellites used by the Tomorrow People to monitor transmissions and activity throughout the Solar System.

ZD28-FV6 Inquiry initiated by the Galactic Federation to consider the threat posed by the Earth to neighbouring nations.

Zenon Senior Time Guardian, grandfather of Peter. Encountered the Tomorrow People during the 1970s.

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Abaya	Long black robe often worn by Islamic women as an aid to modesty.
Adonisia	Member planet of the Galactic Federation. Adonisia is a close ally of the Tomorrow People, an alliance cemented by the marriage of the TP Carol to Narcissa of Adonisia.
AE Suit	Artificial Environment suit. Thermally and atmospherically regulating, incorporates jaunting belt and spectra shift.
Air Reprocessor	Device which filters and cleans air in a closed environment, simultaneously converting carbon dioxide into oxygen.
AMRE	The Ambridge Military Research Institute in England.
Alliance	See Resolutions - Paradigm Shift for explanation. None provided here to avoid major spoiler.
Anthropology	The study of mankind, specifically its biological and social characteristics and evolution.
Autosomes	Chromosomes (structures of genetic code), excluding the X and Y chromosomes which govern biological gender.
Babouschka	Old woman in Russian folklore who gave gifts to children in the winter. Traditionally, she failed to accompany the three mages to visit the infant Christ and now wanders the world looking for the Child, while helping other children in need.
Barlumin	Rare mineral. Emits a radiation that inhibits mental powers. One of the few known seams in this galaxy is in Scotland. Exposure is extremely painful for Tomorrow People.
BESA	The Bosnian Emergency Security Agency. Intelligence service established in reponse to the Mass Breakout.
Bosnia-Herzegovina Conflict	Civil war in the process of the break up of Yugoslavia. Bosnia was invaded by Serbia and a number of different ethnic groups were 'cleansed' from the area.
Breakout	The natural process whereby a Tomorrow Person's mind becomes opened to their mental abilities. Can be dangerous if unassisted.
The Bumps	'The Bumps' is a procedure whereby a birthday child is lifted by their arms and legs and bounced once up and down for each year of their age.
Camps	Centres run by Saps in which Tomorrow People are confined under the influence of Barlumin radiation.
Dining Out	A formal dinner in a military unit designed to encourage camaraderie and fellowship. May include ceremonies to honour one's country, departed comrades or individual achievements. Often celebrate the departure or retirement of one or more officers.
Eternal Order	The Eternal Order of Guardians were established at some point in the future to monitor and maintain the integrity of the time lanes. Also known as Time Guardians.
Evolution	The gradual development of one species from another as the result of genetic mutation and survival of the fittest.
Fjord	Narrow, deep inlet on a coastline, originally Norwegian.
Galactic Federation	An alliance of telepathically gifted species of generally advanced scientific development. Governed from the Trig. Member races include Adonisia, Sophostria, Pralex 6 and Guagar-K.
General Assembly	The principle decision making body of the United Nations in which each member nation is represented and granted one vote.
Grand Central Station	The busiest railway terminal on the planet Earth. Located in New York, close to the United Nations headquarters building.
Great Emergence	The coming to prominance of Homo novus on Earth sometime between the 20th and 26th centuries. Predicted by the Time Guardian Peter.

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy	Novel by the science fiction writer Douglas Adams. The eponymous guide is famous for having the words 'Dont Panic' in "large, friendly letters" on the cover.
Homo erectus	Now extinct species of humanity notable for its ability for tool usage and upright gait. Believed to have evolved into modern Homo sapiens.
Homo neanderthalensis	Now extinct species of humanity notable for its adaption to the cold, predominantly in skeletal robustness. Skilled manufacturers of flint tools, with a brain case larger the modern Homo sapiens, this species buried its dead ceromoniously.
Homo novus	Alternate name for Tomorrow People.
Homo superior	The scientific name for Tomorrow People.
Homo sapiens	The scientific name for conventional modern humanity.
Hypnagoic	Inducive of, or leading to, sleep.
Jaunt	Teleport. Disppear in one place and reapper in another having passed through hyperspace. Term adopted from the novel Tiger, Tiger by Alfred Bester
Jaunting Belt	Device to assist navigation and power while jaunting.
John	The first Tomorrow Person to break out on Earth and make contact with the Galactic Federation. Based in London.
Jultomten	Sprite who gives gifts at Christmas time in Swedish folklore.
Kalinar	'Flying saucer' shaped space vehicle used by member nations of the Galactic Federation.
Karma	Concept in Hinduism/Buddhism decribing the belief that any action leads to inevitable consequences which may be experienced in this life or the next.
Kinetic Energy	The form of energy which describes the intensity of both motion and heat.
Lab	Base of operations and community centre used secretly by Tomorrow People. Often include dormitories, common rooms, equipment storage and sometimes schools.
Lab, Luna	Evacuation and refugee centre founded in response to the threat to, and destruction of, other Labs. On the dark side of the Moon.
Lab, Major	Regional headquarters, usually base to large numbers of Tomorrow People and some administrative authority. Responsible for coordinating a number of sattelite minor Labs. Major Labs include London, Toronto, California, Chicago, Melbourne and Paris.
Lab, Minor	(or Local Lab) Small Tomorrow People base. Usually look to Major Labs for policy and also inter-Lab contact.
Link Table	Device in Lab used to facilitate mental contact between Tomorrow People. Incorporates mental energy boosters.
Malthus, Operation	Project to develop genetically engineered children capable of infiltrating Labs and affecting others with a retrovirus inhibiting breakout.
Malthus, Thomas	Economist (1766-1834). Theorised that a population grows exponentially until checked by catastrophic collapse.
Mass Breakout	Exponentially accelerating phenomenon whereby large numbers of young people are simultaneously developing mental powers. Began in 2008. Hidden from general public, recognised by governments.
Mauna Loa	Volcano on Hawaii. The tallest mountain on Earth if measured from the ocean bed.
Metastable Equilibrium	A state of balance which, while stable for short periods, is transient and preceeds change, sometimes dramatic, once disturbed.
Moucharabiah	Enclosed balcony which enables one to watch the street without being seen in turn. Common in Islamic architecture for the protection of women's modesty.
Mutation	The process of variation in genetic material by random substitution of one genetic base by another, the cumulative effects of which lead to alteration in expressed characteristics.

NAAFI	'Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes': a civilian organisation which provides canteens and shops for British military personnel. Colloquially, canteens run by this organisation.
Novus	Politically correct term for a Tomorrow Person (derived from Homo Novus).
Novus Committee	Joint TP-Sap committee formed to deal with TP relocation and reconciliation problems after the Great Emergence.
One Mind	Governing body of the Galactic Federation comprising a gestalt of representatives from the telepathic races of the Federation.
Oort Cloud	Hypothetical region of ice and asteroidal material forming a shell well beyond the orbit of Pluto. This debris from the formation of the solar system provides a reservoir of comets which fall towards the Sun.
Pandemic	Infectious desease outbreak more severe and widespread than an epidemic, usually covering a wide area or even spread worldwide.
Paradigm	A set of assumptions and concepts that define a world view - a model defining the understanding of the nature of reality for those in a given group.
Peerie	Member planet of the Galactic Federation, native telepaths are known as the Vesh.
Pele	The fire goddess sacred on Hawaii and believed to reside in the volcano Kilauea.
Père Noël	Santa Claus in French
Photosensitive	Reacting strongly to light, particularly with headaches or skin burns.
Pinewood Lake	Remote lake in Sasketchewan, Canada, and also the nearby town. Home to Travin Harkness, and later Josh.
Psionic	Relating to mental abilities such as telepathy.
Pyrrhic Victory	A victory gained at too great a cost; in allusion to the exclamation attributed to Pyrrhus after the battle of Asculum in Apulia (in which he routed the Romans, but with the loss of the flower of his army), 'One more such victory and we are lost'
Regora	Planet, non-Galactic Federation and non-telepathic. Ruled by a heriditary monarchy but moving towards democracy after an encounter with the Tomorrow People in the 1970s.
Remote	Pin-sized, flying cameras, used by the Tomorrow People for intelligence gathering and monitoring the Camps.
Retrovirus	An RNA virus often used to carry new genetic information into animal cells.
Ripper Ray	Powerful weapon developed by the Thargon Empire and installed on their 'Thick Ships'. Capable of vapourising vessels or large tracks of countryside.
Saiyonara	Planet with historical connection to the Tomorrow People.
Saps	Term for Homo sapiens, used by Tomorrow People. May be derogatory.
Scree	Loose rock fragments, often forming a slippery and unstable slope on mountain sides.
Secretary General	Nominal head of the United Nations organisation, with the task of furthering its aims through diplomacy and guidance.
Security Council	Group of nations within the United Nations organisation charged with peacekeeping. Comprises five permanent and ten elected member nations.
Serpent's Tooth	Nickname for the drug ST4. Quotation from Shakespeare: `How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is, To have a thankless child', King Lear, Act I, scene iv
Sodium Pentathol	'Truth drug'. Relaxant drug often used during interrogation to lower inhibitions and break concentration.
Sophostria	Member planet of the Galactic Federation. Population of non-corporeal entities with a leaning towards philosophy.
Sorsons	Empire of non-telepathic individuals. Aggressive expansionists and involved in a long term conflict first with the Thargon Empire and later the Galactic Federation. Now confined to their solar system by the Federation.
Spanish Flu	Variant of the influenza virus which caused a global pandemic in 1917-1919 and is credited with killing more people than the First World War did. Believe to be derived from an avian flu varient, it primarily affected the young and healthy.
Species	Group of organisms with sufficient genetic simularity to interbreed and produce fertile offspring and distinct from any other species.
Spectra Shift	Mentally powered light manipulation device. Can be used to camoflage the user. Incorporated in AE suits.
ST4	Chemical compound developed by Operation Malthus to activate the Malthus retrovirus.
Stara Majka	'Old Mother' in Bosnian.
Steven	Steven Jameson, fourth Tomorrow Person to break out.
Stockholm Syndrome	The tendency in victims of kidnapping to come to identify with their captors - the formation of an emotional bond as a means to endure violence or abuse. Named after the behaviour of four employees held captive for four days in a Swedish bank in 1973.
Stun Gun	Non-lethal weapon which renders its target unconscious. Invented and used by Tomorrow People.
Synaptrol	Drug that produces total physical paralysis, including of involuntary muscles. Victims must be kept on total life support.
Telekinesis	The ability to move an object without physical contact.
Telepathy	The ability to communicate at a distance by thought alone.
Teleportation	Also known as jaunting.
Tharga	Empire of non-telepathic, bronze-skinned Thargons. Highly developed sense of honor. Non-Galactic Federation. Long time enemies of the Sorson Empire.
Thargons	Inhabitants of the planet Tharga.
TIM	Artificial intelligence, constructed by John, initiated by the Galactic Federation. Assists and cares for the Tomorrow People. Based in London Lab.
Time Guardians	See Eternal Order
Time Lanes	The pathways between different points in time, connected via hyperspace. Can only be navigated by psionic beings. Monitored by the Eternal Order.
Timus Irnok Mosta	Senior diplomat and current chair-being of the Galactic Federation. One of 64 'clone-brothers'. Ally of the Tomorrow People. See also Transcendent Integrated Mind
TK	An abbreviation of telekinesis.
Towb	Veiled headscarf worn for modesty by Islamic women.
Tomorrow People	The next stage of human evolution. Telepathic, telekinetic and able to jaunt.
TP	Abbreviation of Tomorrow People.
Transcendent Integrated Mind	Biotronic intelligence housed in and running the Trig and generated from the same genetic material as Timus and TIM. The source material was selected to present the best qualities of the Federation's founder members.
Trig	A city-sized space station accomodating representatives from the member nations of the Galactic Federation.

United Nations	International organisation which aims to promote cooperation between nations on Earth, and to help develop a united approach to issues which transcend national borders.
United Nations Headquarters	Large building in central New York, which houses the United Nations organisation and specifically meeting chambers for the General Assembly and Security Council.
Watchdogs	Network of satellites used by the Tomorrow People to monitor transmissions and activity throughout the Solar System.
ZD28-FV6	Inquiry initiated by the Galactic Federation to consider the threat posed by the Earth to neighbouring nations.
Zenon	Senior Time Guardian, grandfather of Peter. Encountered the Tomorrow People during the 1970s.