Melekim
Melekim is a fictional species featured in the science fiction novel "A Fire Upon the Deep" by Vernor Vinge. They are a group of highly intelligent and technologically advanced beings who inhabit the "Beyond," a region of the galaxy where the laws of physics are more malleable. Melekim are characterized by their unique biological and societal structure. They are described as being composed of a crystalline matrix, allowing them to exist in multiple physical forms and to communicate telepathically. Their society is organized into a collective consciousness, where individual Melekim are extensions of a larger, unified mind. This collective nature grants them immense processing power and allows for rapid technological advancement and problem-solving.
The Melekim are also known for their profound understanding of the "Tides," the underlying forces that govern