|
The Specworld, is, to put the matter simply, a parallel Earth.
For the most part, Spec is exactly like our home timeline (also called Home-Earth or RL). Both planets orbit their
middle-aged, G-class stars at distance of a single astronomical unit, possess seven continents in near-identical
configuration (differences include the absence of man-made geography), and a single moon. Both planets are
clothed in a layer of atmosphere (mostly nitrogen and oxygen), and, although RL is rather warmer and more generally
chaotic in climate, both have similar global weather. In short, RL and Spec are virtually the same planet, and in
fact were the same planet until quite recently in their geologic histories.
Given the inexactitude of the fossil record, it is difficult to determine exactly when Spec diverged from our
Home-Earth. However, we can be certain of one thing: no asteroid hit the planet 65 million years ago. While there
is a thin layer of volcanic iridium around the K-T (Cretaceous-Tertiary) boundary, there is no crater off the
coast of Spec's Yucatán, nor the shocked quartz and micro-diamonds spawned by the impact in our home timeline.
As far as anyone can tell, the Chixulub impact, and the subsequent rise of the mammals throughout the Tertiary,
failed entirely to occur.
While on Earth, the Tertiary was marked by the ascendance of mammals, on the Specworld, the tectonic activity at
the end of the Mesozoic was not enough to destroy the dinosaurs. The mammals did not spread across the land and
sea as the largest animals in existence; whole swaths of Mammalia, including dolphins, horses, and humans, failed
entirely to evolve. Instead, the dinosaurs rule, and have for some time.
The story of how humans first came to Spec is an interesting one, but the exact mechanics of the process are
outside the scope of this publication and should be addressed elsewhere. Suffice to say that, now that we have
lived on Spec for some time, have seen the sights and arranged our work into some sort of order, the explorers
of Spec now feel the time is appropriate to introduce the public to our new world.
The Specworld bestiary is, in some cases, wildly different from that of Home-Earth. However, both worlds respond
to the same laws of nature. The study of one will, we are sure, illuminate the other.
Daniel Bensen
|
