Silfen
From Peter F Hamilton
The Silfen are an alien species that inhabit many worlds within the galaxy.
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[edit] Appearance
The Silfen are bipeds and are slightly taller than humans. Their heads are proportionally larger than humans with a flat face, wide feline eyes, a thin nose with long narrow nostrils and long, unbound hair. Their mouths have three circles of teeth that can flex to pull food into their gullet and although it looks slightly menacing, they are herbivores. Their skin is tougher than humans and has a leathery feel and a silk shimmer. Their hands consist of four fingers that can bend in any way. This appearance is now what we can class as a young/juvenile member of the species, or perhaps simply a form used by Silfen for the enjoyment of experience.
[edit] General Information
The Silfen have shown no desire to learn the Commonwealth language but instead speak in what many humans class as riddles and gibberish, very rarely actually getting to the point and saying something that we consider clear. They have no interest in technological artefacts but travel between worlds by 'paths'.
[edit] Paths
The Silfen paths are located on many planets and are, as the name suggests, paths that lead from one planet to another. The paths used by the Silfen are not based on technology that the Commonwealth understands. Ozzie, Orion and Tochee gain a deeper understanding of the way the paths work by the end of Judas Unchained, but this is not something that can be explained, simply that they know where paths are and where they could ultimately lead. The paths can travel through pretty much anything, as shown by crossing into the Dyson Alpha barrier at the end of Judas Unchained. This shows that the Silfen technology is far superior to anything currently understood by Humankind.
[edit] Planets & Locations
Known Silfen planets within the Commonwealth are Silvergalde and Jandk, and locations outside the Commonwealth that we know of are the Ice Citadel planet and the Silfen Gas Halo. Silvergalde is considered something of a regional capital of the Silfen, simply due to the number of Silfen inhabitants.
