The Howling Stones

by Alan Dean Foster

  75,000

  Alaspinians die out, possibly by racial suicide.

  27,000

  Most recent warm cycle begins on Tran‑ky‑ky.

  17,000

  Warm cycle ends and present cold cy­cle begins on Tran‑ky‑ky.

  10,950

  Tunnelling begins on Ulru‑Ujurr.

  c8000

  Thranx civilization is born on Hivehom. The "Eternal City" of Daret is founded.

  c6000

  The last wars are fought on Hivehom.

  c5700

  Human civilization is born on Terra.

  c2000

  The Priory of the Brotherhood "Evonin‑taban" on Tran‑ky‑ky is es­tablished.

  A. D.

  (Anno Domini), Christian religion calendar change occurs on Terra.

  c500

  Temple of Moraung Motau is founded on Horseye.

  c1800

  Thranx achieve space travel.

  c1900

  Thranx discover posigravity drive.

  c2000

  Terrans achieve space travel. All kill­ing of Cetacea is outlawed.

  c2075

  Off‑course Terran "sleeper" colony ship reaches Centaurus System. Plan­ets III and V are colonized.

  c2100

  Thranx have first contact with AAnn.

  c2200

  Off‑course Terran "sleeper" colony ship reaches MIDWORLD.

  2243

  AAnn attack Paszex on Willow‑Wane for the first time.

  2270

  Brain‑enhancement serum is discovered.

  2280

  Posigravity drive is discovered on Terra by Alex Kurita and Sumako Kinoshita. The Centaurus System colo­nies are rediscovered.

  2290

  Cachalor is discovered. Ryozenzuzex is born on Willow‑Wane.

  2300

  Covenant of Peace enacted; Agreement of Transfer made. Transfer of Cetacea to Cachalot.

  2310

  The Terran exporation ship Seeker is attacked by the AAnn, rescued by the Thranx ship Ztnramm and taken to Hivehom. A mysterious message from

  320

  Commonwealth Chronology Capt. Brobwelporvot sends Ryozen­zuzex on a journey to Hivehom to see the aliens.

  2311

  The Humans escape captivity on Hive­hom and return to CENTAURUS VII, taking Ryo with them.

  2312

  The Humans and Ryo set up the Pro­ject on Willow‑Wane.

  2316

  The Project is revealed to the general populace.

  2320

  Transfer of Cetacea to Cachalot is completed.

  2340

  First treaties between Humans and Thranx are signed.

  c2350

  Moth is discovered.

  2360

  First contact is made with Pitar. Terran‑norm planet in the Pitar System is colonized.

  2365

  Destruction of Treetrunk (Argus V) by Pitar occurs. The Humarx‑Pitar War begins.

  2367

  Humanx teams invent the SCCAM Missile and make major break throughs in improving the posigravity drive. SCCAM missiles are used in breaking the blockade around the Pi­ tar worlds.

  2368

  End of the War brings the destruction of the Pitar Homeworlds.

  A. A.

  A.A. (After Amalgamation) ‑ (NOTE: 0 A.A. corresponds to 2400 A.D.)

  0

  The Articles of Amalgamation are signed and the Commonwealth is cre­ated.

  1

  Commonwealth Council meets for the first time on Terra.

  2

  Commonwealth Council meets for the first time on Hivehom.

  c10

  Commonwealth Science Headquarters is established in Mexico City.

  c20

  The Universal Church is created, with the Terran island of Bali becoming the Church Headquarters.

  c88

  Alaspin is discovered.

  c95

  Horseye is discovered by Terrans.

  c99

  The Thranx build and inhabit Steamer Station on Horseye.

  c100

  Krigsvird‑ty‑Kalstund founds the Cas­tle of Wannome on the island of So­fold on Tran‑ky‑ky. First contact occurs between the Commonwealth and the Quillp.

  106

  Eitienne and Lyra Redowl arrive on Horseye, and after five months start their trip up the Skar River where they discover the City of the Dead.

  c150

  Brisbane, Australia, becomes the cap­itol of Terra.

  c175

  The first human settlers arrive on Cachalot. CunsnuC begins developing a mind‑control polyp.

  c300

  The Blight is discovered as survey ships do preliminary mapping. RNGC 1632 (Cannachanna) is discovered by a Visarian probe.

  c350

  Dis is discovered.

  c361

  Surfing contest on Dis is established.

  448

  Mother Mastiff is born on Moth.

  450

  Truzenzuzex is born on Willow‑Wane. The Horde begins taking tribute from Sofold on Tran‑ky‑ky.

  470

  Knigm Yakus is born.

  474

  Bran Tse‑Mallory is born.

  498

  Commonwealth Probe discovers a collapsar near the Velvet Dam. Skua September is born. The Meliorate So­ciety is founded on Terra.

  c500

  Repler System is discovered by Jo-hannes Repler. The AAnn Empire contests the claim and is eventually granted a small concession on Repler III. AAnn attack on the Quillp colony planet of Goodhunting is foiled by a Commonwealth Task Force.

  511

  Anasage (Flinx's mother) is born on Terra.

  515

  Tran‑ky‑ky is discovered. Humanx outpost of Brass Monkey is founded on the island of Arsudun. Lord Estes Dominic Rose begins his first drug dealings. Lumpjaw is born on Cach­alot.

  518

  Ethan Frome Fortune is born. Lauren Walder is born on Moth.

  c525

  Skua and Sawbill September break forever over Sawbill's becoming an emoman. Skua's lover is destroyed by Sawbill's drugs.

  527

  The Analava System War results in 120 million killed. Skua September may have been involved in the start of the war. Flinx's sister, Teleen, is born.

  530

  Meliorate Society is broken up: the most "normal" subjects are scattered across the Commonwealth.

  532

  Kitten Kai‑sung is born.

  533

  Phillip Lynx (Flinx) is born. Joao Acorizal wins surfing contest on Dis.

  537

  Anasage dies. Truzenzuzex and Bran Tse‑Mallory begin jointly researching the Tar‑Aiym.

  538

  Skua September attempts to buy Flinx, but fails. Mother Mastiff does buy him. Flinx finds his pet Mini­drag, Pip.

  540

  Mahnahmi is born.

  543

  Rashalleila Nuaman finances the build­ing of an illegal research station on Midworld.

  545

  Hyperion Trees on Annubis are de­stroyed. Station on Midworld is de­stroyed by natives.

  546

  Agreement between Nuaman Enter­prises and the AAnn Empire results in the building of an illegal station on Ulru‑Ujurr. First Janus Jewels are mined and put on the market.

  548

  Attempted kidnapping of the duKanes fails; lifeboat crashes near Sofold on Tran‑ky‑ky. Planet Booster and the Krang are found by a prospector in the Blight. Isili Hasboga begins pros­pecting in Mimmisompo on Alaspin; Habib and Pocomchi arrive on the planet. Sawbill September works as anemoman on Thalia Major. Mother Mastiff is kidnapped by the Meliorate Society. Cruachan dies and the final destruction of the Meliorares occurs.

  549

  Expedition to the Blight investigates the Krang. Flinx discovers its func­tion. The nomadic Horde on Tran‑kyky is destroyed.

  550

  Rashalleila Nuaman dies. Flinx meets Sylzenzuzex. He bre
aks a Church Edict by traveling to Ulru‑Ujurr. He solves the mystery of the Janus Jew­els, and discovers his parentage. Ujurrians begin "Game of Civiliza­tion." Teleen Rudanuaman is killed. The Slanderscree arrives in Brass Monkey. The duKanes leave Tran‑ky­ky. Ethan Fortune, Skua September, and Milliken Williams leave Brass Monkey to form the Union of Ice.

  551

  Flinx travels to Alaspin. Habib and Pocomchi die. Expedition to the Can­nachanna System in the Blight discov­ers the Anticollapsar Weapon.

  552

  Hur'rikku weapon creates a "rainbow star" from the collapsar near the Vel­vet Dam. Flinx returns to Moth. He meets Knigta Yakus, and accompa­nies him to a Hallowseye mine in Dead‑Place‑On‑Map.

  553

  Flinx travels to Alaspin to release the young Minidrags. He rescues Clarity Held and accompanies her to Long­ tunnel. The Sumacrea are discovered. Flinx decides on his mission in life.

  555

  AAnn explorers in the Blight discover the Vom and transport it to Repler III. The Vom is destroyed by the Tar‑Aiym Guardian and Flinx.

  600

  Five floating towns on Cachalot are destroyed by whales. An investigation leads to the discovery of the CansnuC.

  c1530

  Light from the Rainbow Star reaches Midworld.

  12,550

  Tunnel digging ends on Ulru‑Ujurr. The planet shifts to a closer orbit of its sun.

  c13,000

  Current cold cycle ends; new warm cycle begins on Tran‑ky‑ky.

  About the Author

  Born in New York City in 1946, Alan Dean Foster was raised in Los Angeles, California. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in political science and a Master of Fine Arts in motion pictures from UCLA in 1968-69, he worked for two years as a public relations copywriter in a small Studio City, California, firm.

  His writing career began in 1968 when August Derleth bought a long letter of Foster’s and published it as a short story in his biannual Arkham Collector Magazine. Sales of short fiction to other magazines followed. His first try at a novel. The Tar-Aiym Krang, was published by Ballantine Books in 1972.

  Foster has toured extensively through Asia and the isles of the Pacific. Besides traveling, he enjoys classical and rock music, old films, basketball, body surfing, and karate. He has taught screenwriting, literature, and film history at UCLA and Los Angeles City College.

  Currently, he resides in Arizona with his wife JoAnn (who is reputed to have the only extant recipe for Barbarian Cream Pie).