Difference between revisions of "Shivan Manifesto"

From FreeSpace Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
(non-canon tag added to replace the stuff before, and boxed it in for WMC)
(adding link to full text)
 
(19 intermediate revisions by 12 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{non-canon}}
 
{{non-canon}}
 +
The '''Shivan Manifesto''' is a long, complex document created by Antares. It describes (in detail) a theory on the origins and motivations of the [[Shivans]] during the events of the FreeSpace saga. Though the theory has gained some support, it has many detractors, and is not considered canon, nor is it generally accepted by the FS community. See the full text [[Shivan Manifesto/Full|here]].
  
== Summary of the Manifesto ==
+
==Summary of the Manifesto==
 +
The theory outlined in the Manifesto is based on the idea that the subspace travel performed by [[Terrans]] and [[Vasudans]] is harmful to subspace. It claims that the Shivans are energy beings from subspace, that use a kind of exoskeleton to maintain integrity in our own plane of existence, and their attacks against the two races are the Shivans aggressive defence of their home dimension whenever large levels of subspace activity occur in any given area of space.
  
The Shivan Manifesto was a long and extensive document written (and later revised), on the origins and motivations of the Shivans. Essentially, the theory is based on the idea that the Shivans are energy beings from subspace, that use a kind of exoskeleton to maintain integrity in our own plane of existence. Also central to the theory is that the subspace travel performed by Terrans and Vasudans is harmful to subspace, and as a result, causes the Shivans to aggressively defend their home dimension whenever large levels of subspace activity occur in any given area of space.
+
The theory also explains the Shivans' motivation for destroying [[Capella]] as an act of fear, lest the GTVA deploy more [[GTVA Colossus|Colossi]] in large numbers, as they were not able to understand how a civilization's technology could evolve so quickly. The 'comm nodes' may in fact be life support devices, linking the Shivans to subspace.
  
The theory also explains the Shivans' motivation for destroying Capella as an act of fear, lest the GTVA deploy more Colossi in large numbers, as they were not able to understand how a civillization's technology could evolve so quickly. It also suggests that this retreat is due to the SOC mission where you are ordered to destroy a number of unknown Shivan devices, which the Manifesto states are responsible for Shivan life-support.
+
==Support for the theory==
 +
The theory itself is based largely on conjecture from both the [[Ancients]] and [[Bosch]] monologues in FreeSpace 1, and FreeSpace 2, respectively, and a number of the ideas (such as the Shivans as energy beings) are not mentioned by any canon sources.
  
== Support for the Theory ==
+
== Criticisms of the theory ==
 +
:''Main article:'' ''[[Criticisms of the Shivan Manifesto]]''
  
The theory itself is based largely on conjecture from both the Ancients and Bosch monologues in Freespace 1, and Freespace 2, respectively, and a number of the ideas (such as the Shivans as energy beings) are not mentioned by any canon sources. As a result, the theory itself is highly controversial among Freespace fans (and is certainly not generally accepted as an official interpretation of events).
+
According to its detractors, the theory omits or ignores many significant pieces of information from the games, and overemphasizes the significance of others. It also makes several significant statements based almost entirely on guesswork, with no indication from either game to base these statements on.
  
== Text of the Manifesto ==
+
Specifically, it makes major assumptions about the nature of the [[ETAK]] device, the [[Shivan Comm Node|Shivan Comm Nodes]] and the Shivans themselves without ingame evidence, and contradicts in game evidence on several points (for example, the belief that the Shivans would be frightened of the possibility of multiple GTVA ''Colossus''-class vessels without any evidence that such vessels exist).
  
The full text of the Manifesto can be found in [http://www.cyd.liu.se/users/~johbu692/The%20Shivan%20Manifesto.pdf PDF Form]
+
Also, the fact that the Shivans rely almost entirely on shields for their fighters, and the fact that shields don't work in subspace, casts serious doubt on this theory.
 +
 
 +
==Related links==
 +
*'''[http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,18138.0.html Shivan Manifesto 2.0 thread | Hard-Light Productions.net]'''
 +
 
 +
[[Category:Non-canon]]
 +
[[Category:Shivan theories]]

Latest revision as of 07:57, 13 October 2013

The Shivan Manifesto is a long, complex document created by Antares. It describes (in detail) a theory on the origins and motivations of the Shivans during the events of the FreeSpace saga. Though the theory has gained some support, it has many detractors, and is not considered canon, nor is it generally accepted by the FS community. See the full text here.

Summary of the Manifesto

The theory outlined in the Manifesto is based on the idea that the subspace travel performed by Terrans and Vasudans is harmful to subspace. It claims that the Shivans are energy beings from subspace, that use a kind of exoskeleton to maintain integrity in our own plane of existence, and their attacks against the two races are the Shivans aggressive defence of their home dimension whenever large levels of subspace activity occur in any given area of space.

The theory also explains the Shivans' motivation for destroying Capella as an act of fear, lest the GTVA deploy more Colossi in large numbers, as they were not able to understand how a civilization's technology could evolve so quickly. The 'comm nodes' may in fact be life support devices, linking the Shivans to subspace.

Support for the theory

The theory itself is based largely on conjecture from both the Ancients and Bosch monologues in FreeSpace 1, and FreeSpace 2, respectively, and a number of the ideas (such as the Shivans as energy beings) are not mentioned by any canon sources.

Criticisms of the theory

Main article: Criticisms of the Shivan Manifesto

According to its detractors, the theory omits or ignores many significant pieces of information from the games, and overemphasizes the significance of others. It also makes several significant statements based almost entirely on guesswork, with no indication from either game to base these statements on.

Specifically, it makes major assumptions about the nature of the ETAK device, the Shivan Comm Nodes and the Shivans themselves without ingame evidence, and contradicts in game evidence on several points (for example, the belief that the Shivans would be frightened of the possibility of multiple GTVA Colossus-class vessels without any evidence that such vessels exist).

Also, the fact that the Shivans rely almost entirely on shields for their fighters, and the fact that shields don't work in subspace, casts serious doubt on this theory.

Related links