Poor Image: Silicon Based Life

Really grainy. Is there a better quality picture out there?

Also it doesn't seem super indicative, it just looks like an insectoid creature. But given the nature of the trope, I get what it's getting at and would be okay with a better quality picture.

This one seems to be better rez. Link◊.

snip

edited 12th Aug '13 3:59:39 PM by Willbyr

Looks not much better than the current, quality-wise.

Now that I've seen it on my laptop instead of my phone, I'm retracting my support, it doesn't look that much better than the current. Here's a couple of alternate takes: 1◊, 2◊

2 has my very strong support.

It's clearer, and that allows me to see the angles of the creature, making it actually apparent that it's not just an insectoid monster.

I like 2, but here's a suggestion anyway.[1]◊

That's not bad, but it looks like it could be made of many different things aside from a mineral base, so I prefer the Tholian.

That looks like plastic to me.

I think it looks like it could be made of Silicone etc, the sort of compounds a silicon based lifeform would be made of.

On the other hand, I'm not sure just an odd looking creature is enough. This trope isn't this about how they look. Carbon based lifeforms doesn't look like diamonds or lumps of coal, silicon based ones wouldn't look like silicon crystals/silicon minerals.

2 and 5.2 at least show it being contained, presumably with an atmosphere fitting it chemistry.

edited 13th Aug '13 4:53:10 AM by m8e

"silicon based ones wouldn't look like silicon crystals/silicon minerals. "

That would be Real Life. We are talking about fiction here. A living being that looks like it's out of quartz might work for this.

I think "that looks like quartz, and I think this guy◊. Shame he's actually ice.

Maybe, just maybe, Ajim◊?

For the record, I'm still for 5.2.

edited 13th Aug '13 6:35:06 AM by Larkmarn

Maybe for Image Links...not so much for a page pic.

I'm not where I can look up pics right now, but maybe the title character from Crystar Crystal Warrior, provided he's an actual example...

edited 13th Aug '13 6:29:25 AM by Willbyr

This might be a bit on the nose, but the last panel here?

Technically a silicon-based elemental, but it seems like it'd work as it is a silicon-based lifeform.

I like the way #14 has the symbol for Silicon on it. Makes things far more clear.

It's funny but it doesn't show the trope. This trope is about silicon based beings from worlds with a Silicon-Based Life, and an incompatible chemistry and so on.

ie, this isn't about a one of 'elemental' monster. This is on a much larger scale, there's whole biospheres with Silicon-Based Life and we are just lucky enough to see one of these aliens.

edited 15th Aug '13 12:32:43 AM by m8e

I think you are reading the trope description too narrowly.

Well I might be, but I still think it's better with a straighter example. One that's based on chemistry instead of magic, Sci-fi instead of fantasy.

This is first and foremost a sci-fi trope.

edited 15th Aug '13 4:24:15 AM by m8e

I say Put It Up For Now Because It's Good Enough And Then We Can Get A Straighter Example.

16 is alright, but I still lean toward the Tholian. Crowner?

To me, 16 looks more like a sand monster. When I think of Silicon-Based Life, I think of silicon replacing carbon atoms. That just looks like a sand monster. I suppose we could crowner this.

I'm still for 5.2. I just felt that 16 definitely had to be shared.

Would Eldrad from the Doctor Who story The Hand Of Fear be suitable?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hand_of_Fear

I couldn't find a good quality version of Eldrad's male form, or I'd prefer it.

edited 15th Aug '13 7:11:53 AM by Melkior

That's not bad actually.

I do like the Order of the Stick one though because it is literally a silicon based life form (albeit not necessarily of the type envisioned by the trope)- there's even a periodic table label on the creature.