adathelyek
Adathelyek is a term used in speculative fiction and worldbuilding to describe a class of sentient, semi-ethereal beings. In most depictions, adathelyek exist at the boundary between memory and material reality, and they are not bound to a single body or world. They are described as luminous, glass-like or shadow-mottled figures capable of changing form. They perceive time non-linearly and communicate through resonant thought, symbols, or music rather than spoken language.
Origin and scope: The term is not tied to a single canonical source; it appears across various
Ecology and behavior: Adathelyek feed on mnemonic energy—the traces of memory, story, and emotion. They reproduce
In fiction and media: They are used to explore themes of memory, knowledge preservation, and the consequences
Reception and scholarship: Within fictional settings, scholars debate their origins—whether they are emergent from cognitive networks,