Tralfamadorians

Tralfamadorians are an alien species from the planet Tralfamadore, prominently featured in Kurt Vonnegut's novel Slaughterhouse-Five. They are described as having a physical form that resembles a two-dimensional, hand-like shape with a single, large, unblinking eye on their palm. Their mode of existence is non-linear; they perceive time all at once, experiencing past, present, and future simultaneously. This unique perspective means they have no concept of free will or death in the human sense. When a Tralfamadorian dies, it is simply a moment in time that has passed, not an end to existence.

Their philosophy centers on understanding and accepting the entirety of one's existence. They believe that to be alive is to be alive at all moments. They have a particular interest in Earth and its inhabitants, viewing humans as having an unusually high degree of free will. However, they also see humans as tragically focused on the present moment, leading to suffering and the inability to appreciate the broader sweep of time. Tralfamadorians share their wisdom with Billy Pilgrim, the protagonist of Slaughterhouse-Five, attempting to help him cope with the trauma of war by sharing their temporal perspective.