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Sci-Fi Organic Technology

It turns out that the natural world has incredible properties:

Gary Shockley's 1984 short story The Coming of the Goonga contains a fine example of the kind of organic science fiction technology possessed by other beings on other worlds.

In the story, which is told from the point of view of the aliens, human beings land on an alien planet inhabited by small creatures who use other animals to fire weapons at great speed.

"Op!" the conjuremaster Pedeet barks my name. I shake free of entrancement and see that inattention has let my goonga grow restless. (Awakener [one of the human crew] calls our goongas "bagpipes," but I prefer our name). It is trying to belly out. That would kink its eight long snouts or dislodge the slender hollow reeds we have fitted in the ends. Jentzoot and Kamin prod it from this urge while I apply myself to fondling. Soon it quivers with only one wish. I communicate this fact to the pointers, who load; then I slip around to the glands. ...I fondle and squeeze. We hear... the coming of the goonga.

This latter is a sharp "whoof" almost a thunderclap, and the goonga's fierce compaction sends me sprawling.

[Awakener] looks down upon her own body and sees the eight fibrillances piercing her chest and stomach, pinning her against the structure behind.

Thanks of course to Winchell Chung of Project Rho.

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