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'''''Encyclopedia Galactica: From the Fleet Library aboard the Battlestar Galactica''''' (Windmill Books and E.P. Dutton 1979, ISBN 0525610391), edited by Bruce Kraus, is an encyclopedia of the [[Original Series]].
'''''Encyclopedia Galactica: From the Fleet Library aboard the Battlestar Galactica''''' (Windmill Books and E.P. Dutton 1979, ISBN 0525610391), edited by Bruce Kraus, is an encyclopedia of the [[Original Series]].


''Encyclopedia Galactica'' is presently out of print, although copies of it, at times, are available either through Amazon.com or [http://www.ebay.com eBay].
''Encyclopedia Galactica'' is presently out of print, although copies of it are intremittently available either through Amazon.com or eBay.


Due to its various inaccuracies, misspellings, and contradictory information, it is '''not considered''' a fully canonical [[BW:CJ|source text]] for the Original Series. Battlestar Wiki does aim to note the difference between this text and aired information however, though makes no guarantees on its status in ''Battlestar'' canon.
Due to its various inaccuracies, misspellings, and contradictory information, it is '''not considered''' a fully canonical [[BW:CJ|source text]] for the Original Series. Battlestar Wiki does aim to note the difference between this text and aired information however, though makes no guarantees on its status in [[Battlestar Wiki:Canon|''Battlestar'' canon]].


== Errata ==
== Errata ==
Line 24: Line 24:


* In general, the timeline given in the book does not correspond to the date {{TOS|Starbuck}} gives in "[[The Man with Nine Lives]]" (yahren [[7322]]).<ref>{{cite_book|last=Kraus|first=Bruce|authorlink=|authorlinkurl=|coauthors=|year=1979|title=[[Encyclopedia Galactica]]|publisher=|location=|id=|pages=59}}</ref>
* In general, the timeline given in the book does not correspond to the date {{TOS|Starbuck}} gives in "[[The Man with Nine Lives]]" (yahren [[7322]]).<ref>{{cite_book|last=Kraus|first=Bruce|authorlink=|authorlinkurl=|coauthors=|year=1979|title=[[Encyclopedia Galactica]]|publisher=|location=|id=|pages=59}}</ref>
* The book mentions that after serving with distinction in a dozen major engagements during the "[[Thousand-Yahren War|Great War]]", he "returned to '''[[Carillon]]''' a hero", instead of [[Caprica (TOS)|Caprica]].<ref>''Ibid.'' 11.</ref>
* The book mentions that after serving with distinction in a dozen major engagements during the "[[Thousand-Yahren War|Great War]]," he "returned to '''[[Carillon]]''' a hero," instead of [[Caprica (TOS)|Caprica]].<ref>''Ibid.'' 11.</ref>
* The book mentions that [[Zac]] is short for "Zaccariah", although there is nothing to support this.<ref>''Ibid.'' 12, 57.</ref>
* The book mentions that [[Zac]] is short for "Zaccariah," although there is nothing to support this.<ref>''Ibid.'' 12, 57.</ref>
* The book mentions that Adar was born in 6368, but contradicts this date by saying he became a staff assistant to the [[Quorum of Twelve (TOS)|Quorum of Twelve]] in ''5997'', almost 400 years ''before'' he was even born.<ref>''Ibid.'', 12.</ref>
* The book mentions that Adar was born in 6368, but contradicts this date by saying he became a staff assistant to the [[Quorum of Twelve (TOS)|Quorum of Twelve]] in ''5997'', almost 400 years ''before'' he was even born.<ref>''Ibid.'', 12.</ref>
* The picture of the alleged [[Agro Ship]] is actually a picture of the [[Mining Ship]] seen in both the [[Original Series|Original]] and [[Re-imagined Series]].<ref>''Ibid.'' 13.</ref>
* The picture of the alleged [[Agro Ship]] is actually a picture of the [[Mining Ship]] seen in both the [[Original Series|Original]] and [[Re-imagined Series]].<ref>''Ibid.'' 13.</ref>
Line 38: Line 38:
* [[Carillon]] is said to have been discovered by human settlers nearly 200 yahren before the fall of the Colonies, but this is inaccurate as the planet was discovered by Baltar's agents; they later reported that the planet held nothing of value, and no humans went there to mine tylium (as claimed in the book).<ref name="p26">''Ibid.'', 26.</ref>
* [[Carillon]] is said to have been discovered by human settlers nearly 200 yahren before the fall of the Colonies, but this is inaccurate as the planet was discovered by Baltar's agents; they later reported that the planet held nothing of value, and no humans went there to mine tylium (as claimed in the book).<ref name="p26">''Ibid.'', 26.</ref>
* The word Geminon is misspelled "Geinon".<ref name="p27">''Ibid.'', 27.</ref>
* The word Geminon is misspelled "Geinon".<ref name="p27">''Ibid.'', 27.</ref>
* The "dreadnought" depicted in the book is, in fact, a Cylon [[basestar (TOS)|basestar]] over [[Carillon]] when {{TOS|Apollo}} and {{TOS|Starbuck}} ignite the [[tylium]] during the [[Battle of Carillon]].<ref name="p32">''Ibid.'' 34.</ref>  
* The "dreadnought" depicted in the book is, in fact, a Cylon [[basestar (TOS)|basestar]] over [[Carillon]] when {{TOS|Apollo}} and {{TOS|Starbuck}} ignite the [[tylium (TOS)|tylium]] during the [[Battle of Carillon]].<ref name="p32">''Ibid.'' 34.</ref>  
* The term "drone" is defined as "compact, pilotless spacecraft" developed by humans. The term "[[List of terms (TOS)|drone]]" as defined in the series refers to robots, like [[Muffit II]]. Additionally, the small gallery of pictures depicting a drone are the [[Cylon Mine]]s in the [[Straits of Madagon]].<ref name="p32"/>
* The term "drone" is defined as "compact, pilotless spacecraft" developed by humans. The term "[[List of terms (TOS)|drone]]" as defined in the series refers to robots, like [[Muffit II]]. Additionally, the small gallery of pictures depicting a drone are the [[Cylon Mine]]s in the [[Straits of Madagon]].<ref name="p32"/>
* Count [[Iblis]] is called "Ibley".<ref>''Ibid.'' 39.</ref>
* Count [[Iblis]] is called "Ibley".<ref>''Ibid.'' 39.</ref>
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* {{inlineref|antiscientific period}}: the period where the Colonials rejected technology after the exodus from {{TOS|Kobol}}.<ref name="p24">''Ibid.'', 24.</ref>
* {{inlineref|antiscientific period}}: the period where the Colonials rejected technology after the exodus from {{TOS|Kobol}}.<ref name="p24">''Ibid.'', 24.</ref>
* {{inlineref|Astralon}}: high-velocity particles, similar to [[w:meteoroid|meteoroids]] and micro-meteoroids, that are grouped together like a cloud. Armored battle craft are shielded from astralons, but they can cause damage to unshielded civilian vehicles, compromising the hull and ship's atmosphere. Smaller astralons are said to be undetectable by low-power [[scanner]]s.<ref>''Ibid.'', 14.</ref>
* {{inlineref|Astralon}}: high-velocity particles, similar to [[w:meteoroid|meteoroids]] and micro-meteoroids, that are grouped together like a cloud. Armored battle craft are shielded from astralons, but they can cause damage to unshielded civilian vehicles, compromising the hull and ship's atmosphere. Smaller astralons are said to be undetectable by low-power [[scanner]]s.<ref>''Ibid.'', 14.</ref>
* {{inlineref|Books of the Lords of Kobol}}: semi-mystical books complimenting the [[Book of the Word]], chronicling the events of the exodus from {{TOS|Kobol}}. They were composed during the [[#Second Millennium|Second Milennium]]'s "[[#Age of the Philosophers|Age of the Philosophers]]". The written style is described as "uneven and various", with "beautiful poems telling the loss and separation of the final days [... interspersed] with stark lists of individuals and their possessions".  In comparison to the Book of the Word, the later Books contain "proverbs and parables" that have nebulous and varied meanings depending on the person reading the text. This so-called ambiguity "cannot be held to be a flaw", for it "reflects the greater uncertainty about the universe and the fate of humankind felt during the last days of Kobol".<br/>After the establishment of the Colonies, the books became influential in creating the many religious sects, mainly because of Kobol's destruction due to science and technology. These sects created "elaborate mathematical interpretations of particular words, even particular sequences of symbols", believing that the fate of the entire universe was coded into the Books, and that it was the "mission of humankind" to decipher them. A majority of these sects died out by the [[Seventh Millennium]].<ref>''Ibid.'', 20-21.</ref>
* ''{{inlineref|Bellerephon}}'': [[Battlestar (TOS)|battlestar]] on which [[Tigh (TOS)|Colonel Tigh]] served with distinction before his transfer to the ''{{TOS|Galactica}}'' in 6560. Tigh also served aboard the ''{{TOS|Atlantia}}'' during his rise through the ranks after being commissioned a [[Colonial Warrior|Warrior]] on the field of battle for outstanding heroism during the [[Tauron]] campaign in 6525.<ref name="p542">''Ibid.'', 54.</ref>
* {{inlineref|Buzzer}}: While we know canonically that [[homemade buzzer]] can and has been made locally on one planet, the book says that "buzzer" is the general term for a variety of alcoholic beverages native to the "outer Colonial provinces", essentially a form of [[w:moonshine|moonshine]] made of local plant life and "usually aged less than one yahren". Additionally, "excessive consumption" of this substance is a "serious medical and social problem in these lonely outposts, though no cure has been found".<ref name="p25"/>
* {{inlineref|Books of the Lords of Kobol}}: semi-mystical books complimenting the [[Book of the Word]], chronicling the events of the exodus from {{TOS|Kobol}}. They were composed during the [[#Second Millennium|Second Milennium]]'s "[[#Age of the Philosophers|Age of the Philosophers]]". The written style is described as "uneven and various," with "beautiful poems telling the loss and separation of the final days [... interspersed] with stark lists of individuals and their possessions".  In comparison to the Book of the Word, the later Books contain "proverbs and parables" that have nebulous and varied meanings depending on the person reading the text. This so-called ambiguity "cannot be held to be a flaw," for it "reflects the greater uncertainty about the universe and the fate of humankind felt during the last days of Kobol".<br/>After the establishment of the Colonies, the books became influential in creating the many religious sects, mainly because of Kobol's destruction due to science and technology. These sects created "elaborate mathematical interpretations of particular words, even particular sequences of symbols," believing that the fate of the entire universe was coded into the Books, and that it was the "mission of humankind" to decipher them. A majority of these sects died out by the [[Seventh Millennium]].<ref>''Ibid.'', 20-21.</ref>
* {{inlineref|Buzzer}}: While we know canonically that [[homemade buzzer]] can and has been made locally on one planet, the book says that "buzzer" is the general term for a variety of alcoholic beverages native to the "outer Colonial provinces," essentially a form of [[w:moonshine|moonshine]] made of local plant life and "usually aged less than one yahren". Additionally, "excessive consumption" of this substance is a "serious medical and social problem in these lonely outposts, though no cure has been found".<ref name="p25"/>
* {{inlineref|Caprica City}}: a city on [[Caprica (TOS)|Caprica]] where {{TOS|Boomer}} was raised.<ref name="p22">''Ibid.'', 20-21.</ref>
* {{inlineref|Caprica City}}: a city on [[Caprica (TOS)|Caprica]] where {{TOS|Boomer}} was raised.<ref name="p22">''Ibid.'', 20-21.</ref>
** See: [[Caprica City]] for the [[Re-imagined Series]]' city of the same name.
** See: [[Caprica City]] for the [[Re-imagined Series]]' city of the same name.
* {{inlineref|Cygnus}}: an asteroid containing an outpost of the [[Picon (TOS)|Picon]] colony, in addition to a [[tylium]] mine owned by {{TOS|Baltar}}'s family. It was captured by the [[Cylons (TOS)|Cylons]] a century before the [[Battle of Cimtar]] and held for five [[yahren]] until the Colonials retook it. Baltar later turned Cygnus' tylium mine operation into the "largest intercolonial Tylium trading firm in the Galaxy".<ref name="p16">''Ibid.'', 16.</ref>
* {{inlineref|Colonial Code}}: the legal framework governing Colonial society, which was swiftly modified following the [[Encyclopedia Galactica#Cybernetic Revolt|Cybernetic Revolt]] in [[5160]] to prohibit the integration of sophisticated artificial intelligence with mobile mechanical devices. This modification prevented humans from suffering the same grim fate that befell the first [[Cylons (TOS)|Cylons]]: destruction by their own creations. Rare exceptions to this code include the android [[daggit]] [[Muffit II|Muffey]], built out of sympathy for the loss during [[Battle of Cimtar|the destruction]] of [[Caprica (TOS)|Caprica]].<ref name="p493">''Ibid.'', 49.</ref>
* {{inlineref|Eagle Squadron}}: a legendary [[Viper (TOS)|Viper]] squadron assigned to battlestar ''[[#Prometheus|Prometheus]]''. Prior to assuming command of ''{{TOS|Pegasus}}'', Cain led this squadron, gaining "intercolonial fame" by doing so.<ref name="p26">''Ibid.'', 26.</ref>
* {{inlineref|Cybernetic Revolt}}: an uprising that occurred in yahren [[5160]] during the [[Scientific Renaissance]], which paralyzed the Colonial economy for over a yahren. The revolt shattered the dream of a "Golden Age" when all of society's boring, repetitive jobs could be done by intelligent machines, and led to swift modifications of the [[Colonial Code]] to prohibit the integration of sophisticated artificial intelligence with mobile mechanical devices.<ref name="p49">''Ibid.'', 49.</ref>
* {{inlineref|Cygnus}}: an asteroid containing an outpost of the [[Picon (TOS)|Picon]] colony, in addition to a [[tylium (TOS)|tylium]] mine owned by {{TOS|Baltar}}'s family. It was captured by the [[Cylons (TOS)|Cylons]] a century before the [[Battle of Cimtar]] and held for five [[yahren]] until the Colonials retook it. Baltar later turned Cygnus' tylium mine operation into the "largest intercolonial Tylium trading firm in the Galaxy".<ref name="p16">''Ibid.'', 16.</ref>
* {{inlineref|Cylon Madness}}: a severe psychological condition that afflicted the survivors of the [[Final Destruction]] during the hopeless period following the [[Battle of Cimtar]]. This intense depression and despair threatened to overwhelm the human survivors until the social game of [[Triad (TOS)|Triad]] was introduced aboard the ''[[Galactica (TOS)|Galactica]]''. The game provided something for people to look forward to and helped save many from the psychological devastation. Cylon Madness represented one of the most significant mental health challenges faced by the [[The Fleet (TOS)|Fleet]] in the aftermath of the near-extinction of humanity.<ref name="p54">''Ibid.'', 54.</ref>
* {{inlineref|Dreadnought}}: Dreadnoughts are vast [[Cylons (TOS)|Cylon]] warships packed with weapons systems and landing troops, whose sole function is planetary destruction. They have no counterparts in the Colonial fleet. Dreadnoughts are neither highly maneuverable nor well-armed defensively. They are usually brought up from the rear after a sector's space defenses have been entirely subdued by previous attack. The defense of a Dreadnought in hostile space requires two Cylon [[Basestar (TOS)|Baseships]].<ref name="p34">'''Ibid.'', 34.</ref>
* {{inlineref|Eagle Squadron}}: a legendary {{TOS|Viper}} squadron assigned to battlestar ''[[#Prometheus|Prometheus]]''. Prior to assuming command of ''{{TOS|Pegasus}}'', Cain led this squadron, gaining "intercolonial fame" by doing so.<ref name="p26">''Ibid.'', 26.</ref>
* {{inlineref|Era of Darkness}}: the time period that followed the settlement of the [[The Twelve Colonies of Man|Twelve Colonies]] after the humans' exodus from {{TOS|Kobol}}. During this period, technology pertaining to interstellar travel and other higher-end electronic science were forgotten, for these were blamed for the fall of Kobol. As a result, each colony was cut off from the others, and the humans reverted to a "simpler, agricultural way of life". This is stated to have lasted for as long as two millennia.<ref name="p27">''Ibid.'', 27.</ref>
* {{inlineref|Era of Darkness}}: the time period that followed the settlement of the [[The Twelve Colonies of Man|Twelve Colonies]] after the humans' exodus from {{TOS|Kobol}}. During this period, technology pertaining to interstellar travel and other higher-end electronic science were forgotten, for these were blamed for the fall of Kobol. As a result, each colony was cut off from the others, and the humans reverted to a "simpler, agricultural way of life". This is stated to have lasted for as long as two millennia.<ref name="p27">''Ibid.'', 27.</ref>
* {{inlineref|Fifth Millennium}}: the time period when the [[Caprica (TOS)|Caprica]]ns led the colonies into the scientific renaissance, well after the [[#Era of Darkness|Era of Darkness]].<ref name="p27"/>  
* {{inlineref|Fifth Millennium}}: the time period when the [[Caprica (TOS)|Caprica]]ns led the colonies into the scientific renaissance, well after the [[#Era of Darkness|Era of Darkness]].<ref name="p27"/>  
* {{inlineref|Final Destruction}}: a name of the final, decisive Cylon strike against the [[The Twelve Colonies of Man|Twelve Colonies of Man]].<ref name="p35">'''Ibid.'', 35.</ref>  The canonical name for it is the [[Battle of Cimtar]].
* {{inlineref|Final Destruction}}: a name of the final, decisive Cylon strike against the [[The Twelve Colonies of Man|Twelve Colonies of Man]].<ref name="p35">'''Ibid.'', 35.</ref>  The canonical name for it is the [[Battle of Cimtar]].
* {{inlineref|intercolonial}}: A term describing institutions, activities, trade, and travel that span or connect multiple colonies within the Twelve Colonies of Man. Examples include the Intercolonial Strategic Council (governing the war effort), the Intercolonial Kennel Association (recognizing daggit breeds across colonies), intercolonial travel and commerce, and various trading firms that operated across colonial boundaries.<ref name="p16-25-33-40">'''Ibid.'', 16, 25, 33, 40.</ref>
* {{inlineref|Intercolonial Kennel Association}}: an organization that officially recognized different breeds of [[daggit]]s across the [[The Twelve Colonies of Man|Twelve Colonies]]. Each of the Colonies developed its own varieties of daggits over thousands of yahren, and by the time of the [[#Final Destruction|Final Destruction]], over two thousand different breeds were officially recognized by this association.<ref name="p33">''Ibid.'', 33.</ref>
* {{inlineref|Intercolonial Strategic Council}}: the body governing the Colonial war effort against the Cylons during the Thousand-Yahren War. Commander [[Cain (TOS)|Cain]] dominated this council for years before [[Battle of Molecay|his debacle]] at [[Molecay]].<ref name="p25"/>
* {{inlineref|Intercolonial Strategic Council}}: the body governing the Colonial war effort against the Cylons during the Thousand-Yahren War. Commander [[Cain (TOS)|Cain]] dominated this council for years before [[Battle of Molecay|his debacle]] at [[Molecay]].<ref name="p25"/>
* {{inlineref|Interstellar Age}}: presumably the age that humanity rediscovered interstellar travel.<ref name="p22"/>
* {{inlineref|Interstellar Age}}: presumably the age that humanity rediscovered interstellar travel.<ref name="p22"/>
* {{inlineref|Long Peace}}: a 500-yahren period of "unparalleled prosperity" after the rediscovery of interstellar travel amongst the colonies; this occurred prior to the onset of the [[Thousand Yahren War]].<ref name="p28">''Ibid.'', 28.</ref>
* {{inlineref|Long Peace}}: a 500-yahren period of "unparalleled prosperity" after the rediscovery of interstellar travel amongst the colonies; this occurred prior to the onset of the [[Thousand Yahren War]].<ref name="p28">''Ibid.'', 28.</ref>
* {{inlineref|nutron cased laser torpedo}}: a Cylon weapon included in the [[basestar (TOS)|basestar]]'s armament; upon detonating, it not only inflicts physical damage, but also emits rays that break down the cellular structure of both food and human tissue, likely similar to [[pluton poisoning]].<ref name="p19"/>
* {{inlineref|nutron cased laser torpedo}}: a Cylon weapon included in the [[basestar (TOS)|basestar]]'s armament; upon detonating, it not only inflicts physical damage, but also emits rays that break down the cellular structure of both food and human tissue, likely similar to [[pluton poisoning]].<ref name="p19"/>
* {{inlineref|Pan-Colonial Unification Party}}: a social and political movement that sought to unify the Colonies under one government politically, economically, and militarily; it was prominent on the colonies on Picon and [[Virgon (TOS)|Virgon]]. [[Adar (TOS)|Adar]] worked to develop this party on Virgon, which ushered him into a role of president of this organization and later the presidency of the [[Quorum of Twelve (TOS)|Quorum of Twelve]].<ref>''Ibid.'', 12.</ref> Baltar also generously contributed to this party and was influencial in bringing the party to power on his own colony of Picon.<ref name="p16"/>
* {{inlineref|Pan-Colonial Unification Party}}: a social and political movement that sought to unify the Colonies under one government politically, economically, and militarily; it was prominent on the colonies on Picon and [[Virgon (TOS)|Virgon]]. [[Adar (TOS)|Adar]] worked to develop this party on Virgon, which ushered him into a role of president of this organization and later the presidency of the [[Quorum of Twelve (TOS)|Quorum of Twelve]].<ref>''Ibid.'', 12.</ref> Baltar also generously contributed to this party and was influencial (sic) in bringing the party to power on his own colony of Picon.<ref name="p16"/>
* ''{{inlineref|Prometheus}}'': [[battlestar (TOS)|battlestar]] that [[Cain (TOS)|Cain]] served on as leader of [[#Eagle Squadron|Eagle Squadron]].<ref name="p26"/>  
* {{inlineref|Pluton}}: A poisonous substance generated from fall-out of [[Encyclopedia Galactica#nutron cased laser torpedo|Nutron Elements]] which contaminates food.<ref name="p462">'''Ibid.'', 46.</ref>
* {{inlineref|Praesidium}}: the central governing body of the Colony of [[Caprica (TOS)|Caprica]]. During the [[Era of Darkness]], it was an annual meeting of the Caprican [[Buritician|buriticians]] (sic) where disputes were settled and taxes were set amid great festivities and revelry. As the [[Scientific Renaissance]] progressed, government by the elite was no longer tolerated. The Praesidium was progressively expanded until its members represented all segments of society. The privileges of the buriticians were gradually reduced until, by the time of the Great War, they had an automatic right to only three out of 300 seats.  In time of war, however, the power of the buriticians was effectively enhanced. For the duration of such crisis, three-leader ruling councils wielded the power of the entire Praesidium. These were composed of a commoner, a military leader and a buritician. Since the buritician class also provided many military leaders, it effectively controlled the Colony in wartime. Because of the length of the [[Great Cylon War]], this system was abandoned, and after [[5770]] the 300-member Praesidium was reinstated. The Caprican Praesidium ceded the vast reserve on which the [[Academy]] stood to the [[Quorum of Twelve (TOS)|Quorum of the Twelve]] when cooperation was needed to develop a military force capable of repelling the Cylon attack.<ref name="p46">''Ibid.'', 46.</ref>
* {{inlineref|preciptum layer}}: any mass of heavy-element matter in deep space, which can be the result of such natural processes as the gravitational decay of an asteroid, or may be the waste product of certain kinds of primitive space drive engines. They do not present a major hazard to navigation since (although light cannot pass through them) [[scanners]] can analyze them fully.<ref name="p47">'''Ibid.'', 47.</ref>
* ''{{inlineref|Prometheus}}'': [[battlestar (TOS)|battlestar]] that [[Cain (TOS)|Cain]] served on as leader of [[#Eagle Squadron|Eagle Squadron]].<ref name="p26" />
* {{inlineref|Scientific Renaissance}}: period in Colonial history dealing with the rediscovery and advancement of science.<ref name="p28"/>
* {{inlineref|Scientific Renaissance}}: period in Colonial history dealing with the rediscovery and advancement of science.<ref name="p28"/>
* {{inlineref|Second Millennium}}: the second millennium of time, insinuated to be 2,000 years (or more) after the exodus from Kobol; a [[#Age of the Philosophers|period]] during this time saw the creation of the [[#Books of the Lords of Kobol|Books of the Lords of Kobol]].<ref name="p20"/>  
* {{inlineref|Second Millennium}}: the second millennium of time, insinuated to be 2,000 years (or more) after the exodus from Kobol; a [[#Age of the Philosophers|period]] during this time saw the creation of the [[#Books of the Lords of Kobol|Books of the Lords of Kobol]].<ref name="p20"/>  
* {{inlineref|Tauron Center for Science and the Arts}}: an educational institution that included a Physics Department where Dr. [[Ravashol]] worked as "the brooding genius" before designing and constructing his [[Ravashol pulsar|powerful communication device]] on the asteroid [[Arcta]].<ref name="p492">''Ibid.'', 49.</ref>
* {{inlineref|ultra-light drive}}: advanced propulsion technology that enables spacecraft to achieve velocities approaching the speed of light through manipulation of matter and energy at the subatomic level. The drives were first successfully developed and implemented in yahren 4980, marking the beginning of the [[Long Peace]]. They operate by converting [[solium]] fuel through controlled fusion processes that create directed energy streams, allowing vessels to manipulate space-time itself for near-instantaneous acceleration without crushing g-forces. The technology revolutionized intercolonial travel, reducing journey times from [[yahren]] to mere [[centon]]s, and proved crucial during the [[Thousand-Yahren War]] for rapid redeployment of Colonial forces. Ultra-light drives are primarily installed aboard [[battlestar (TOS)|battlestar]]s due to their immense power requirements.<ref name="p59">''Ibid.'', 59.</ref>
* {{inlineref|University of Picon}}: an educational institution on [[Picon (TOS)|Picon]] where {{TOS|Baltar}} studied "political economy".<ref name="p16"/>
* {{inlineref|University of Picon}}: an educational institution on [[Picon (TOS)|Picon]] where {{TOS|Baltar}} studied "political economy".<ref name="p16"/>


Latest revision as of 23:13, 20 September 2025

Encyclopedia Galactica
Encyclopedia Galactica
A book of the Original Series reference line
Book No. 1
Author(s) Bruce Kraus[1]
Adaptation of
No. of Pages {{{pages}}}
Published September 1979
ISBN 0525610391
Chronology
Previous Next
The Official Battlestar Galactica Scrapbook Encyclopedia Galactica none
Paperback Version
Available at Amazon.com – Purchase
Available at Amazon.co.uk – Purchase
Audiobook Version
Available at iTunes – [{{{itunes}}} Purchase]

Encyclopedia Galactica: From the Fleet Library aboard the Battlestar Galactica (Windmill Books and E.P. Dutton 1979, ISBN 0525610391), edited by Bruce Kraus, is an encyclopedia of the Original Series.

Encyclopedia Galactica is presently out of print, although copies of it are intremittently available either through Amazon.com or eBay.

Due to its various inaccuracies, misspellings, and contradictory information, it is not considered a fully canonical source text for the Original Series. Battlestar Wiki does aim to note the difference between this text and aired information however, though makes no guarantees on its status in Battlestar canon.

Errata

edit source

A listing of errata in the book that deviates from already established canonical material, ordered by appearance.

  • In general, the timeline given in the book does not correspond to the date Starbuck gives in "The Man with Nine Lives" (yahren 7322).[2]
  • The book mentions that after serving with distinction in a dozen major engagements during the "Great War," he "returned to Carillon a hero," instead of Caprica.[3]
  • The book mentions that Zac is short for "Zaccariah," although there is nothing to support this.[4]
  • The book mentions that Adar was born in 6368, but contradicts this date by saying he became a staff assistant to the Quorum of Twelve in 5997, almost 400 years before he was even born.[5]
  • The picture of the alleged Agro Ship is actually a picture of the Mining Ship seen in both the Original and Re-imagined Series.[6]
  • The picture of the launch bay is referred to as a "ready-room" in the caption for the picture.[7]
  • The picture of the landram from Saga of a Star World is referred to as a shuttlecraft.[7]
  • The caption for a picture of a battlestar repeats the error of there only being twelve battlestars before the Battle of Cimtar.[7]
  • The Borellian Nomen are referred to as "Borallians".[8]
  • The laser bola are referred to as the "Laser-Bolt".[9]
  • The top picture of a Boray is, in fact, the appearance of Count Iblis without special effects.[10]
  • The Borays are said to be inhabitants of Equellus; they are inhabitants of Sectar. Equellus is the planet that Apollo crash-lands on in "The Lost Warrior".[10]
  • According to Commander Cain's entry, he had Pegasus on "ready alert" which prevented his ship from being destroyed during the Battle of Cimtar. However, Cain was at Gamoray in an attempt to circumnavigate Cylon forces between Molecay and the Colonies at the time, and did not hear about the attack until well after it happened.[11]
  • Carillon is said to have been discovered by human settlers nearly 200 yahren before the fall of the Colonies, but this is inaccurate as the planet was discovered by Baltar's agents; they later reported that the planet held nothing of value, and no humans went there to mine tylium (as claimed in the book).[12]
  • The word Geminon is misspelled "Geinon".[13]
  • The "dreadnought" depicted in the book is, in fact, a Cylon basestar over Carillon when Apollo and Starbuck ignite the tylium during the Battle of Carillon.[14]
  • The term "drone" is defined as "compact, pilotless spacecraft" developed by humans. The term "drone" as defined in the series refers to robots, like Muffit II. Additionally, the small gallery of pictures depicting a drone are the Cylon Mines in the Straits of Madagon.[14]
  • Count Iblis is called "Ibley".[15]

Other items

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These are items that cannot fit in any other location, due to the lack of canonicy.

  • Age of the Philosophers: an era of the Second Millennium, likely similar to the Renaissance period of Earth's history, when the Books of the Lords of Kobol were written.[16]
  • antiscientific period: the period where the Colonials rejected technology after the exodus from Kobol.[17]
  • Astralon: high-velocity particles, similar to meteoroids and micro-meteoroids, that are grouped together like a cloud. Armored battle craft are shielded from astralons, but they can cause damage to unshielded civilian vehicles, compromising the hull and ship's atmosphere. Smaller astralons are said to be undetectable by low-power scanners.[18]
  • Bellerephon: battlestar on which Colonel Tigh served with distinction before his transfer to the Galactica in 6560. Tigh also served aboard the Atlantia during his rise through the ranks after being commissioned a Warrior on the field of battle for outstanding heroism during the Tauron campaign in 6525.[19]
  • Books of the Lords of Kobol: semi-mystical books complimenting the Book of the Word, chronicling the events of the exodus from Kobol. They were composed during the Second Milennium's "Age of the Philosophers". The written style is described as "uneven and various," with "beautiful poems telling the loss and separation of the final days [... interspersed] with stark lists of individuals and their possessions". In comparison to the Book of the Word, the later Books contain "proverbs and parables" that have nebulous and varied meanings depending on the person reading the text. This so-called ambiguity "cannot be held to be a flaw," for it "reflects the greater uncertainty about the universe and the fate of humankind felt during the last days of Kobol".
    After the establishment of the Colonies, the books became influential in creating the many religious sects, mainly because of Kobol's destruction due to science and technology. These sects created "elaborate mathematical interpretations of particular words, even particular sequences of symbols," believing that the fate of the entire universe was coded into the Books, and that it was the "mission of humankind" to decipher them. A majority of these sects died out by the Seventh Millennium.[20]
  • Buzzer: While we know canonically that homemade buzzer can and has been made locally on one planet, the book says that "buzzer" is the general term for a variety of alcoholic beverages native to the "outer Colonial provinces," essentially a form of moonshine made of local plant life and "usually aged less than one yahren". Additionally, "excessive consumption" of this substance is a "serious medical and social problem in these lonely outposts, though no cure has been found".[11]
  • Caprica City: a city on Caprica where Boomer was raised.[21]
  • Colonial Code: the legal framework governing Colonial society, which was swiftly modified following the Cybernetic Revolt in 5160 to prohibit the integration of sophisticated artificial intelligence with mobile mechanical devices. This modification prevented humans from suffering the same grim fate that befell the first Cylons: destruction by their own creations. Rare exceptions to this code include the android daggit Muffey, built out of sympathy for the loss during the destruction of Caprica.[22]
  • Cybernetic Revolt: an uprising that occurred in yahren 5160 during the Scientific Renaissance, which paralyzed the Colonial economy for over a yahren. The revolt shattered the dream of a "Golden Age" when all of society's boring, repetitive jobs could be done by intelligent machines, and led to swift modifications of the Colonial Code to prohibit the integration of sophisticated artificial intelligence with mobile mechanical devices.[23]
  • Cygnus: an asteroid containing an outpost of the Picon colony, in addition to a tylium mine owned by Baltar's family. It was captured by the Cylons a century before the Battle of Cimtar and held for five yahren until the Colonials retook it. Baltar later turned Cygnus' tylium mine operation into the "largest intercolonial Tylium trading firm in the Galaxy".[24]
  • Cylon Madness: a severe psychological condition that afflicted the survivors of the Final Destruction during the hopeless period following the Battle of Cimtar. This intense depression and despair threatened to overwhelm the human survivors until the social game of Triad was introduced aboard the Galactica. The game provided something for people to look forward to and helped save many from the psychological devastation. Cylon Madness represented one of the most significant mental health challenges faced by the Fleet in the aftermath of the near-extinction of humanity.[25]
  • Dreadnought: Dreadnoughts are vast Cylon warships packed with weapons systems and landing troops, whose sole function is planetary destruction. They have no counterparts in the Colonial fleet. Dreadnoughts are neither highly maneuverable nor well-armed defensively. They are usually brought up from the rear after a sector's space defenses have been entirely subdued by previous attack. The defense of a Dreadnought in hostile space requires two Cylon Baseships.[26]
  • Eagle Squadron: a legendary Viper squadron assigned to battlestar Prometheus. Prior to assuming command of Pegasus, Cain led this squadron, gaining "intercolonial fame" by doing so.[12]
  • Era of Darkness: the time period that followed the settlement of the Twelve Colonies after the humans' exodus from Kobol. During this period, technology pertaining to interstellar travel and other higher-end electronic science were forgotten, for these were blamed for the fall of Kobol. As a result, each colony was cut off from the others, and the humans reverted to a "simpler, agricultural way of life". This is stated to have lasted for as long as two millennia.[13]
  • Fifth Millennium: the time period when the Capricans led the colonies into the scientific renaissance, well after the Era of Darkness.[13]
  • Final Destruction: a name of the final, decisive Cylon strike against the Twelve Colonies of Man.[27] The canonical name for it is the Battle of Cimtar.
  • intercolonial: A term describing institutions, activities, trade, and travel that span or connect multiple colonies within the Twelve Colonies of Man. Examples include the Intercolonial Strategic Council (governing the war effort), the Intercolonial Kennel Association (recognizing daggit breeds across colonies), intercolonial travel and commerce, and various trading firms that operated across colonial boundaries.[28]
  • Intercolonial Kennel Association: an organization that officially recognized different breeds of daggits across the Twelve Colonies. Each of the Colonies developed its own varieties of daggits over thousands of yahren, and by the time of the Final Destruction, over two thousand different breeds were officially recognized by this association.[29]
  • Intercolonial Strategic Council: the body governing the Colonial war effort against the Cylons during the Thousand-Yahren War. Commander Cain dominated this council for years before his debacle at Molecay.[11]
  • Interstellar Age: presumably the age that humanity rediscovered interstellar travel.[21]
  • Long Peace: a 500-yahren period of "unparalleled prosperity" after the rediscovery of interstellar travel amongst the colonies; this occurred prior to the onset of the Thousand Yahren War.[30]
  • nutron cased laser torpedo: a Cylon weapon included in the basestar's armament; upon detonating, it not only inflicts physical damage, but also emits rays that break down the cellular structure of both food and human tissue, likely similar to pluton poisoning.[7]
  • Pan-Colonial Unification Party: a social and political movement that sought to unify the Colonies under one government politically, economically, and militarily; it was prominent on the colonies on Picon and Virgon. Adar worked to develop this party on Virgon, which ushered him into a role of president of this organization and later the presidency of the Quorum of Twelve.[31] Baltar also generously contributed to this party and was influencial (sic) in bringing the party to power on his own colony of Picon.[24]
  • Pluton: A poisonous substance generated from fall-out of Nutron Elements which contaminates food.[32]
  • Praesidium: the central governing body of the Colony of Caprica. During the Era of Darkness, it was an annual meeting of the Caprican buriticians (sic) where disputes were settled and taxes were set amid great festivities and revelry. As the Scientific Renaissance progressed, government by the elite was no longer tolerated. The Praesidium was progressively expanded until its members represented all segments of society. The privileges of the buriticians were gradually reduced until, by the time of the Great War, they had an automatic right to only three out of 300 seats. In time of war, however, the power of the buriticians was effectively enhanced. For the duration of such crisis, three-leader ruling councils wielded the power of the entire Praesidium. These were composed of a commoner, a military leader and a buritician. Since the buritician class also provided many military leaders, it effectively controlled the Colony in wartime. Because of the length of the Great Cylon War, this system was abandoned, and after 5770 the 300-member Praesidium was reinstated. The Caprican Praesidium ceded the vast reserve on which the Academy stood to the Quorum of the Twelve when cooperation was needed to develop a military force capable of repelling the Cylon attack.[33]
  • preciptum layer: any mass of heavy-element matter in deep space, which can be the result of such natural processes as the gravitational decay of an asteroid, or may be the waste product of certain kinds of primitive space drive engines. They do not present a major hazard to navigation since (although light cannot pass through them) scanners can analyze them fully.[34]
  • Prometheus: battlestar that Cain served on as leader of Eagle Squadron.[12]
  • Scientific Renaissance: period in Colonial history dealing with the rediscovery and advancement of science.[30]
  • Second Millennium: the second millennium of time, insinuated to be 2,000 years (or more) after the exodus from Kobol; a period during this time saw the creation of the Books of the Lords of Kobol.[16]
  • Tauron Center for Science and the Arts: an educational institution that included a Physics Department where Dr. Ravashol worked as "the brooding genius" before designing and constructing his powerful communication device on the asteroid Arcta.[35]
  • ultra-light drive: advanced propulsion technology that enables spacecraft to achieve velocities approaching the speed of light through manipulation of matter and energy at the subatomic level. The drives were first successfully developed and implemented in yahren 4980, marking the beginning of the Long Peace. They operate by converting solium fuel through controlled fusion processes that create directed energy streams, allowing vessels to manipulate space-time itself for near-instantaneous acceleration without crushing g-forces. The technology revolutionized intercolonial travel, reducing journey times from yahren to mere centons, and proved crucial during the Thousand-Yahren War for rapid redeployment of Colonial forces. Ultra-light drives are primarily installed aboard battlestars due to their immense power requirements.[36]
  • University of Picon: an educational institution on Picon where Baltar studied "political economy".[24]
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References

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Please note that page numbers reflect the numbering in the PDF file that is linked above, and not in the actual encyclopedia itself, as the pages are not individually numbered in the actual book.
  1. ↑ Due to the nature of Kraus' entry on page 7, it is unknown whether or not the name is a pseudonym.
  2. ↑ Kraus, Bruce (1979). Encyclopedia Galactica, p. 59.
  3. ↑ Ibid. 11.
  4. ↑ Ibid. 12, 57.
  5. ↑ Ibid., 12.
  6. ↑ Ibid. 13.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Ibid. 19.
  8. ↑ Ibid. 22-23.
  9. ↑ Ibid. 23.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Ibid., 23.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Ibid., 25.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Ibid., 26.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Ibid., 27.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Ibid. 34.
  15. ↑ Ibid. 39.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Ibid., 20.
  17. ↑ Ibid., 24.
  18. ↑ Ibid., 14.
  19. ↑ Ibid., 54.
  20. ↑ Ibid., 20-21.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Ibid., 20-21.
  22. ↑ Ibid., 49.
  23. ↑ Ibid., 49.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Ibid., 16.
  25. ↑ Ibid., 54.
  26. ↑ 'Ibid., 34.
  27. ↑ 'Ibid., 35.
  28. ↑ 'Ibid., 16, 25, 33, 40.
  29. ↑ Ibid., 33.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Ibid., 28.
  31. ↑ Ibid., 12.
  32. ↑ 'Ibid., 46.
  33. ↑ Ibid., 46.
  34. ↑ 'Ibid., 47.
  35. ↑ Ibid., 49.
  36. ↑ Ibid., 59.
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