Skylums

Skylums is a speculative concept used in science fiction to describe elevated, self-contained urban habitats suspended above ground level. In many depictions, skylums function as modular communities that consolidate housing, commerce, and public space within a dense, vertically organized footprint. They may be tethered to towers, perched on cliff rims, or constructed as floating platforms using advanced lift technologies. Some variants are orbital or high-atmosphere structures connected to a planetary grid by transit networks, while others remain strictly ground-supported but elevated on artificial pylons.

Design and infrastructure: Skylums emphasize self-sufficiency, with integrated power, water, waste recycling, and climate control. Buildings are often modular to allow rapid reconfiguration. Transportation within and between skylums typically relies on elevators, aerial gondolas, maglev corridors, and skybridges, reducing the need for extensive ground infrastructure.

Social and political aspects: In fiction, skylums frequently serve as settings to explore class divides, governance, and resilience in the face of environmental collapse or resource scarcity. Access to skylums can be restricted, creating stratified urban ecologies, while others portray them as egalitarian or experimental communities.

Origins and usage: The term skylum does not denote a single canonical work but a recurring motif across speculative fiction. Writers use skylums to examine urbanization trends, climate adaptation, and the ethics of enclosure and mobility in highly engineered environments.

Real-world context: There are no actual skylums today; however, the concept intersects with discussions of vertical cities, space habitats, and large-scale modular housing.