Everything about Slan totally explained
» Slan is also the name of a character in Berserk (manga); for the Irish phrase see Slán Abhaile
"Slan" is the name of a fictional race of superbeings in the
1946 novel of the same name by
A. E. van Vogt. They are named after their alleged creator, Samuel Lann. The protagonist of the novel is a Slan named Jommy Cross.
The novel was originally serialized in the magazine
Astounding Science Fiction in
1940 before being published by
Arkham House in an edition of 4,051 copies.
Plot summary
Slans are the product of
human evolution and have the
psychic abilities to read minds and are super-intelligent. They possess near limitless stamina, "nerves of steel", and superior strength and speed. When Slans are ill or seriously injured, they go into a healing trance automatically.
There are two kinds of Slans. One has
tendrils and can read the minds of ordinary humans
and telepathically communicate with other Slans. The tendrils are golden in colour thus making it easy to spot a slan. These Slans are hunted to near extinction. The other type of Slan is tendrilless. They are still super intelligent but don't have psychic capabilities, only the ability to hide their thoughts from the first type of Slan. Kier Gray is the leader of the human society and promises to exterminate the Slans. As the novel begins, Jommy Cross (a telepathic Slan of the first type) is brought with his mother to the capital, Centropolis. They are both discovered, and Jommy's mother is killed. Jommy is only nine years old and manages to escape. Jommy Cross isn't only the heir to the brilliant inventions of his father, but he represents the last hope of his race to save it from
genocide. Because of the importance of his mission, he's opposed by various enemies. Jommy seeks to destroy Kier and in confronting him discovers a terrible secret - that Kier Gray is also a Slan.
Sequel
Lydia van Vogt, A. E. van Vogt's widow, and
Kevin J. Anderson wrote a sequel to
Slan, titled
Slan Hunter, based on an unfinished draft by van Vogt. It was published July 10, 2007. Lydia van Vogt has previously given permission to publish online her
moving introduction
which partly deals with the onset of
Alzheimer's disease that van Vogt struggled with at the end of his life.
Fandom
In science fiction
fandom a slogan quickly developed, "Fans are slans", comparing the perceived greater intelligence and imaginative capability of science fiction fans with the supernatural abilities of slans in the novel. Although some regard it as a symbol of fandom elitism, along with the related term
mundane for non-fans, others regard it as a reaction to the perceived disapproval of science fiction or the fans of it by non-readers/non-fans.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Slan'.
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