starkem

Starkem is a fictional term used in speculative fiction to denote a rare, energy-rich material or a related process. It has no recognized basis in science or industry. The name is typically presented as a coinage by authors rather than derived from an established language.

In fictional settings, starkem is described as having extremely high energy density, stability under extreme conditions, and unique magnetic or gravitational properties enabling technology such as advanced propulsion, shielding, or computation. Its physical form can vary, described as a metalloid ore, crystalline lattice, or a pure energy state.

Extraction and refinement are depicted as challenging and costly, involving specialized facilities and security. The material is frequently controlled by powerful organizations, trading on interstellar markets, and often features in plotlines as a resource contested by factions.

Because starkem serves as a flexible plot device, writers can attribute different capabilities to it across works, leading to a loose set of commonly referenced traits rather than a single canonical definition.

See also: fictional materials, MacGuffin, sci-fi tech tropes.