Speculative Zoology From My Past: The Cordala System

Reading Dougal Dixon’s “After Man: A Zoology of the Future” as a teenager in the mid eighties, really spurred me on to do my own speculative zoology. But my interest in biology and the history of life on Earth as a child had always inspired me to create many fanciful creatures. Armed with my pencils, I thought up countless faunas detailing them on numerous sheets of paper. This is the first one in a new series where I will have some of my old drawings retraced so I can show you all the weird worlds I imagined back in the day. The Cordala system was originally inspired by a comic book series called Storm, especially the chronicles of Pandarve. In this series, the hero, originally an astronaut from Earth, is stranded in an alternate universe, where one could sail between worlds through a continuous atmosphere. I envisaged an enormous gas giant that was big enough to encompass habitable worlds within its breathable atmosphere.

[@Phrenotopia]

Hope you enjoy this little blast from the past! Also: Find the spelling error in the annotations.. No, wait, it's a new word I just made up! 😅

[@xuanluu4873]

Since you were a teen in the mid 80’s, how old are you now? Sorry if this sounds weird

[@Phrenotopia]

@@xuanluu4873 If you guess a little, I will give you the answer. 😅

[@xuanluu4873]

@@Phrenotopia my guess is somewhere in your late 40’s or early 50’s

[@Phrenotopia]

@@xuanluu4873 I'm 48 so that's pretty accurate!

[@rudidaivdson5282]

The Docca looks like a chad Bug Facer

[@nakenmil]

Physics notwithstanding, this would have made an absolutely AMAZING young adult adventure story, whether as a book or comic. I would've eaten it up completely as a kid or teen.

[@PlanetESPYREX]

The idea of planets inside another planet are beyond my imagination and I loved it, thank you for sharing your awesome work with us!

[@Phrenotopia]

Thank you for your kind words. 🤗

[@thedarkmasterthedarkmaster]

It would be interesting to see you reimagine this with your modern skills

[@Phrenotopia]

I'd probably imagine the planets closely orbiting a brown dwarf which itself orbits a brighter star.

[@henrykkeszenowicz4664]

This is very impressive. The best I did is one unfinished conlang, and it's extremely hard and time consuming.

[@giomoura2605]

Honestly, i would read a book or Comic about that, thats Hella interesting and quite well thought out in my opinion

[@michaljanovsky8966]

I enjoyed this video much. It reminds me of my own speculative worlds from childhood. Yours are pretty creative!

[@skythedragon7897]

After the pandemic, I decided to go through and remake my own. The most notable part is that the planet is now more directly controlled by the two massive gods that were always there. One is in the exosphere and the other is towards the middle of the crust

[@orbismworldbuilding8428]

While this isn't the most realistic, it's a fantastic space fantasy world and very detailed and interesting

[@Denneth_D.]

Didn’t know you where even here mate Nice to see you around here

[@orbismworldbuilding8428]

@@Denneth_D. hehe likewise ^^

[@Denneth_D.]

@@orbismworldbuilding8428 it’s always nice when artists revisit there old art (I just did not too long ago looking at my doodles I did back a year ago) might revisit my old stories & stuff I did Also meeting with you is always great

[@orbismworldbuilding8428]

@@Denneth_D. agreed, though ive also had a history of trying to revamp old projects and it notworking out XD Likewise c:

[@Denneth_D.]

@@orbismworldbuilding8428 I looked thru a comic I did (it was only a exposition dump about the backstory and a few panels of the story itself Imagine Bionicle, fused with Transformers and also Glyos (basically indie Bionicle but in space) and you get Exodus: Story of the Monkaa might revisit it In a similar way there’s other stories I made that I scraped (even tho the actual story parts weren’t made) out of the stories there are Harvest 33 a story which is like avatar but the aliens are inspired by lego minifigs from an old space theme, Prelude of Gaia which was basically something that Spirit Science would say in one of his vids (I actually binged a few of his stuff that inspired the premise of it which I’ll get along too) and the previously mentioned Exodus Prelude of Gaia is weird the premise is within the Sol system the Earth, Mars & Venus where once one singular planet before becoming there own worlds after a cataclysm happened each of these worlds had people that descended from being called Gaians (imagine them like the star people from AT but not in space) there’s us earthlings, martians which love to battle each other (imagine Klingons but with no forehead ridges) Venusians are spindly and tall and rather expressive with art, and Lunarians which live on our moon I think I made PoG back a year or 2 ago but I’m not sure roughly the same time frame as Exodus too Hope you liked hearing my creative endeavours (hope you did cuz that would make me happy)

[@thedukeofweasels6870]

I don't care if the physics are wonky this is perfect! I'm so sick of speculative zoology that is so in bent on being scientifically accurate it's not even fun or the other extreme or things seem intentionally goofy. This seems to be like a perfect balance with a truly unique premise you should definitely elaborate more

[@orbismworldbuilding8428]

Agreed

[@sixrabbits3972]

I find this quite fascinating! I love the concept and the various species designs. You did a pretty good job creating creatures that are definitely alien, while also giving them the ability to make some readable expressions that would be necessary for a comic (always the hardest part for me! Let me design funky animals that don't have to emote for the reader)

[@linkalot7415]

Here's a video idea: how scientifically plausible are the aliens most commonly depicted in society (e.g. Greys, reptilians - you may have to go into conspiracies a little bit haha)

[@Phrenotopia]

Yes, I've been contemplating that for quite some time now. Who know? Maybe one day it will come into fruition. :)

[@tysondennis1016]

A nested planet is such a cool concept!

[@imaredwhale2thenotsoelectr916]

Oh hey Those are some of the planets and creatures I saw on the livestream

[@haydend.maniac227]

Hello bruv

[@randomevotimes7784]

The amount of humanoids is troubling, though I like Docca specifically because of the whole no endoskeleton bearers thing

[@imaredwhale2thenotsoelectr916]

I can tell

[@Littlekoji-df1cf]

I don't have a broblem whit it.

[@groveri2]

I love the language for the first planet.

[@Littlekoji-df1cf]

Omg. This is actually impressive!

[@goodday5438]

This is awesome I really like when people make speculations how things will evolve I would love to see more things about these alien worlds

[@pacotaco1246]

Wow the Sica are based! Great concepts!

[@zee_space_wolfy]

This alone is far more than all I've done in the past 10 years. I really need to start developing some projects.

[@Phrenotopia]

Just as long as it stays fun: Go for it! 🤗

[@willowthesily672]

i really hope this exists somewhere in the universe

[@JoseELeon]

This sounds awesome, you should continue with that universe

[@sp_ce.]

Love to see a fellow dutchmab. Goed werk maat.

[@Phrenotopia]

Dank je! :)

[@todddempsey1277]

I’m so jealous of your languages and writing systems. You were a teen when you made this and it’s better than anything I’ve ever done. Do you have any tips on how to make a good writing/language system?

[@eddo2169]

Wow this very impressive! how long did it took you to make all of this?

[@Phrenotopia]

I can't remember, but whenever the inspiration hits me, it can be a matter of weeks or even days.

[@sethtimerime4643]

Interesting idea

[@one-clawedtheropod1567]

It’s funny! I come from the same country as you and I can read the text

[@emilandreasson9670]

Oooh! Planetseption

[@xuanluu4873]

Are the satellites of Cordala able to spin in their axis?

[@Phrenotopia]

Good question! I never contemplated that, but then again, I didn't really fully work out the physics at play here. I supposed they'd have to rotate to even out irradiation. However, I never considered how transparent the atmosphere would be and whether stellar irradiation would also play a role. Perhaps it would be better to reimagine Cordala as a red/brown dwarf... Feel free to venture suggestions!

[@mathieuleader8601]

this is what Antz should've been like

[@asteroidrice1250]

I also was interested in biology and zenobiology

[@haydend.maniac227]

Phrenotopia does Conlang showcases I have a feeling there only relexes of Swedish

[@denifnaf5874]

The sicra language has some letter sounds resembling hungarian

[@Dedicatedfollower467]

Ah, revisiting old stories and alien creatures is always so nostalgic... and so painful, because you always see the flaws. That said, apart from the very anthropocentric sapient designs, I think this are really fun and interesting little worlds! Can't wait to see more revivals from you!

[@Hwelhos]

G E K O L O N I S E E R D

[@GlamaRama01]

what is the start jungly-like music? can you know it?

[@Phrenotopia]

I put all credits in the video description

[@Littlekoji-df1cf]

Question: what would red plants look like at colder seasons on other planets. (Spec evo project ideas?)

[@mathieuleader8601]

babushka doll planet nice

[@user-qw9et5dw8d]

"Kzotka"? Sounds like smth Slavic

[@ODJJ-77.83]

1819

[@ashenen2278]

Oh, I see, some names seem to be inspired by Russian. And I kind of like this early world building. I don't know but the simplicity can still make it very intriguing

[@mechamudskipper]

snar wors

[@arnevandenbussche7406]

Ah een Nederlander!