Les Xipéhuz (1888) is a novella by the writing duo J.-H. Rosny – although it is possible that Rosny aîné was the principal contributor. It describes the fight that threatens humanity, in the beginning of its history, against a new form of intelligent non-organic life, the Xipéhuz, some sort of sentient crystals. It is both his first story set in prehistoric times, and his first science fiction story, although the term did not yet exist.
The narrative consists of two parts. First is a descriptive third-person description of encounters between nomadic tribes and the Xipéhuz, resulting in many deaths from mysterious weapons and powers. This is followed by meetings of the clans and tribes, ritual sacrifices, and assembly of an army which is defeated by the Xipéhuz.
The second part is the memoir of a wise war chief who observes the Xipéhuz from afar, then carefully approaches them to find out their habits and vulnerabilities. Despite nearly being killed on several occasions, he discovers how individual Xipéhuz can be killed, and how to overwhelm them. He then describes a war of attrition where many thousands of warriors encircle the Xipéhuz and reduce their numbers, which have grown into the thousands, sacrificing many men to kill a greater number of the Xipéhuz. Finally the forest inhabited by the Xipéhuz is razed.
Analysisedit
Some contemporary commentators, inspired by later writings, describe the Xipéhuz as extraterrestrial lifeforms. However this is a later interpretation: it could equally be simply a form from another evolutionary line than organic life. The authors do not provide any additional information, merely noting the existence of this non-organic intelligence and its interaction with Neolithic humans. Furthermore, the appearance of a form of non-organic life on Earth (without the extraterrestrial implication) is equally addressed in another work of Rosny Aîné: The Death of Earth.
The text has sometimes been held as the first true science fiction story. "Before Rosny science fiction did not exist," writes Jacques Van Herp, "There only existed a close literature: social science fiction... There was never an event or life-form contrary to what we could otherwise understand, for there was no real science fiction, only when an author "invented" a new science".[1] J.H. Rosny aîné himself said: "I am the only one in France who has given, with "Les Xipéhuz," something new and fantastic, that is to say beyond humanity."[2]
Influencesedit
In the 1980s, the name of the Xipéhuz was taken to designate an alien civilization in the universe of the French role-playing game Empire galactique.[3]
xipéhuz, 1888, novella, writing, rosny, although, possible, that, rosny, aîné, principal, contributor, describes, fight, that, threatens, humanity, beginning, history, against, form, intelligent, organic, life, xipéhuz, some, sort, sentient, crystals, both, fi. Les Xipehuz 1888 is a novella by the writing duo J H Rosny although it is possible that Rosny aine was the principal contributor It describes the fight that threatens humanity in the beginning of its history against a new form of intelligent non organic life the Xipehuz some sort of sentient crystals It is both his first story set in prehistoric times and his first science fiction story although the term did not yet exist 1910 Mercure de France edition Contents 1 Plot 2 Analysis 3 Influences 4 Editions 5 Translations 6 References 7 External linksPlot editThe narrative consists of two parts First is a descriptive third person description of encounters between nomadic tribes and the Xipehuz resulting in many deaths from mysterious weapons and powers This is followed by meetings of the clans and tribes ritual sacrifices and assembly of an army which is defeated by the Xipehuz The second part is the memoir of a wise war chief who observes the Xipehuz from afar then carefully approaches them to find out their habits and vulnerabilities Despite nearly being killed on several occasions he discovers how individual Xipehuz can be killed and how to overwhelm them He then describes a war of attrition where many thousands of warriors encircle the Xipehuz and reduce their numbers which have grown into the thousands sacrificing many men to kill a greater number of the Xipehuz Finally the forest inhabited by the Xipehuz is razed Analysis editSome contemporary commentators inspired by later writings describe the Xipehuz as extraterrestrial lifeforms However this is a later interpretation it could equally be simply a form from another evolutionary line than organic life The authors do not provide any additional information merely noting the existence of this non organic intelligence and its interaction with Neolithic humans Furthermore the appearance of a form of non organic life on Earth without the extraterrestrial implication is equally addressed in another work of Rosny Aine The Death of Earth The text has sometimes been held as the first true science fiction story Before Rosny science fiction did not exist writes Jacques Van Herp There only existed a close literature social science fiction There was never an event or life form contrary to what we could otherwise understand for there was no real science fiction only when an author invented a new science 1 J H Rosny aine himself said I am the only one in France who has given with Les Xipehuz something new and fantastic that is to say beyond humanity 2 Influences editIn the 1980s the name of the Xipehuz was taken to designate an alien civilization in the universe of the French role playing game Empire galactique 3 Editions edit1888 Albert Savine Paris 4 Translations editas The Shapes English translation by Damon Knight in A Hundred Years of Science Fiction ed Damon Knight Simon and Schuster 1968 References edit J H Rosny aine Recits de science fiction introduction de Jacques van Herp Marabout 1975 J H Rosny aine Romans prehistoriques Robert Laffont Bouquins 1985 Manuel du role p 20 scan disponible sur Archive org edition utilisee par Wikisource External links editLes Xipehuz at Project Gutenberg Les Xipehuz at Faded Page Canada Les Xipehuz title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database The Shapes title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database A translation is available in kotava here Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Les Xipehuz amp oldid 1214967367, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
