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K-PAXians are a fictional species from Gene Brewer's novel's K-PAX, K-PAX II and K-PAX III.
The K-PAXians are the most advanced species on the planet K-PAX. All knowledge of K-PAX and its attendant species came from the individual known as prot (rhymes with goat, K-PAXians do not capitalise proper nouns). Prot was interviewed extensively by psychologist Gene Brewer who was of the opinion that prot was simply an "alter"; a second personality of the human Robert Porter.
Physiology
On Earth, prot appeared to be a Caucasian human male who constantly wore sunglasses. When questioned as to why K-PAXians appeared to be human, prot responded "why is a soap bubble round?", meaning that they appear human because the human form is both the result of the environment they inhabit and it is the most efficient form to assume. This implies that on K-PAX they may appear differently. They wear sunglasses due to the brighter environment of Earth. K-PAX, which orbits twin suns K-MON and K-LIL, experiences no night but rather eternal dusk. As a result of this, prot (and presumably other K-PAXians) are capable of detecting wavelengths beyond those detectable by humans, namely UV light. This adds credence to prot's claim that he is not in fact human. As such, each K-PAXian may sire one or two children during their lifetime and the crime of rape is non-existent. Prot also displayed an immense empathy for other beings, perhaps especially species other than humans. Prot had an immense intellect and had specialised knowledge of astronomy, mathematics and the physical sciences. It is not certain if this is biologically ingrained or a result of K-PAXian society.
Society
In K-PAXian society where sex is considered unpleasant, veganism or fruitarianism is preferred, eating meat is never considered and there are no laws, governments, or schools (in other words - anarchism). Some readers view this as a more advanced society, or utopia, with individuals living in peace and harmony with each other without the need for law. K-PAXians have no fixed abode and instead live a sort of nomadic life drifting between certain settlements where food, bedding etc. are stored. The work of cleaning, infrastructure maintenance, harvesting food, etc. is all performed by K-PAXians when it needs to be done; K-PAXians do not have a set occupation. Children may or may not know their parents but this is unimportant as they are raised by their society as a whole. K-PAXians do not develop strong interpersonal bonds but rather consider all beings with compassion. Despite a lack of major cities K-PAX does feature a number of large library type structures for the dissemination of knowledge and K-PAXians are far more technologically advanced than humans. K-PAXian society seems very similar to that described by Sir Thomas More in his novel Utopia.
Technology
Despite living a fairly agrarian lifestyle K-PAXians are technologically highly advanced. Most notable is their ability to travel faster than the speed of light both around a planet and between planets.
See also
"K-PAXian"