Is there much we know about the Tholians?

[Gingerbread Demon]

Is there much that we know about the Tholians? Or are they a mystery like the Breen?

Did they make an appearance in anything other then TOS and Enterprise?

I remember an episode of Enterprise that both the Suliban and Tholians were after a ship the crew had found and had put in their shuttlebay. I'm wondering how the Tholians had found out about that ship or were they working with the Suliban?

So yeah did we ever see them in TNG or DS9?

 

[Nerys Myk]

Memory Alpha is your friend http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Tholian#Appearances

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

Memory Alpha is your friend http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Tholian#Appearances

Oh thanks....... That's helpful.

Just we haven't seen them much in Trek and they always intrigued me as a species.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

Ah damn Future Tense that's the episode I was trying to recall. Where they found the timeship which was bigger on the inside.

 

[Riverside2233]

Not an episode, but I highly recommend the Vanguard series in the LitVerse. The Tholians have a large role and the descriptive writing is pretty solid in the first few novels to really provide more insight into their species.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

I love species like them that we hardly ever see much off in the show. Books are great for filling in the gaps and such but it would have been nice to see more of them in the various shows.

Much like the Breen. We've never seen one. The moment you do see one they go "poof" and melt or vanish. Are they solid, a gas, or a gooey goo? Would have been nice to see the Breen.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I love species like them that we hardly ever see much off in the show. Books are great for filling in the gaps and such but it would have been nice to see more of them in the various shows.

Much like the Breen. We've never seen one. The moment you do see one they go "poof" and melt or vanish. Are they solid, a gas, or a gooey goo? Would have been nice to see the Breen.

What? Everyone knows the Breen look like Carrie Fisher!

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

What? Everyone knows the Breen look like Carrie Fisher!

Oh yeah we wish........

I did love that they used the Star Wars props in DS9

 

[CAPTRousseau]

Check out the Vanguard Series of TOS era novels. (Though they mostly focus on the Endeavour, with a few guest appearances of the Enterprise)

 

[publiusr]

I thought the ships were all crystal--and there is more of a move to show metal in the ships. I don't like that.

 

[Voth commando1]

They were a crystalline based species that was heavily isolationist. Had a strict caste society and were on quasi hostile or at least suspicious terms with the UFP in the 23rd century. According to memory alpha they redrew their borders to keep up with the movement of the stars which led to them being accused of expansionism by others who didn't understand the practice.

In the MU they are clearly viewed with hostility by the terran empire and interstellar politics wise were in a similar situation to their counterparts in the prime verse.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

I'm interested in how they use or make stuff like silk.... I mean they're a literal species that functions in heat. Why would you need or want silk?

 

[Nerys Myk]

I'm interested in how they use or make stuff like silk.... I mean they're a literal species that functions in heat. Why would you need or want silk?

I assume it's not the same as Terran silk. We just use the word as an analog.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

I assume it's not the same as Terran silk. We just use the word as an analog.

I guess but I remember Sisko or someone buying some of that for Cassidy.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I guess but I remember Sisko or someone buying some of that for Cassidy.

Which doesn't mean it's literally silk. Humans have always applied the name of something familiar to new things that remind them of it.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

Which doesn't mean it's literally silk. Humans have always applied the name of something familiar to new things that remind them of it.

Fair enough..

 

[Voth commando1]

You mean make silk? Or trade it? Maybe it's industrial maybe biological I dunno.

It does seem by the 24th century they are interacting somewhat with the rest of the AQ and BQ-there are mentions of the Tholian ambassador from time to time and they are referenced as having signed a non-aggression pact with the dominion.

Politically that implies to me they aren't part of the alliances and power relations within the AQ. They probably fiercely protect their borders and have limited trade and diplomatic contact as necessary.

 

[Tim Thomason]

I'm interested in how they use or make stuff like silk.... I mean they're a literal species that functions in heat. Why would you need or want silk?

Silk is a natural protein fiber produced by a variety of unrelated insects and spiders on Earth, so it's not inconceivable for an alien creature to produce a similar, "silky" protein fiber. Probably not the Tholians, but insectoids or other creatures living in more temperate parts of Tholia.

Tholian silk was only shown to be a luxury for Class M humanoids. It's possible that Tholians produce the silk solely as an export item and have no use for it themselves.

It could also be something crazier, like an artificial soft cloth that can somehow withstand very high temperatures and the very cold ("normal") temperatures that the Siskos are used to. Tholians might need blankets to cuddle under during those cold 350° nights.

 

[mos6507]

Maybe tholian silk is more like carbon nanotubes.

 

[Arpy]

Weren't they telepathic or networkable creatures in their Lost Era novel? They could merge with each other at times to communicate, through their crystalline forms. I always meant to read that one...