David Brin - Heaven's Reach

Terragens Council — the ruling body of humanity’s interstellar government, in charge of matters directly affecting relations between Earthclan and Galactic society.

Toporgic — pseudomaterial substrate made of organically folded time.

transfer point — an area of twisted spacetime that allows faster-than-light travel for vessels entering at a precise angle and velocity.

Tymbrimi — a humanoid species allied with Earthclan, known for cleverness and devilish humor.

tytlal — see noor.

Uplift — process of turning a presapient animal species into a fully sapient race ready to join Galactic society. Performed by “patron.”

wolfling — a derogatory Galactic term for a race that appears to have uplifted itself to spacefaring status without help, or else to have been abandoned by its patron.

ylem — the underlying fabric of reality itself.

Zang — a phylum of hydrogen breathers consisting of single cells, sometimes organized to resemble huge squids. They live in the atmospheres of gas giants. Jijo’s entire region (Galaxy Four) has been leased to hydrogen breathers by the Institute of Migration.