Tholian

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See also:	Andorian, Borg, Cardassian, Ferengi, Klingon, Orion, Romulan, Tellarite, Vulcan, Gorn
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The Tholians are a crystalline-based non-humanoid species from the Alpha Quadrant. They were first encountered in the Star Trek: TOS episode "The Tholian Web".

Canon Information

More information on the Tholians can be found at Memory Alpha.

Tholian-Centric Zines

• The Starfleet Handbook Issue #2 and Issue #11 (1970s)
• Intersect (1979)
• Research Anthology: Crossfire: The Tholian Slaughter Report, Genesis Report, Medusian Report (1987)

Tholian Fiction

• "Eulogy for a Starship" by Dennis Bahm, Cathy Strand and Kay Johnson (1979) - "Captain Kirk is relieved of command. Who is this Captain Aviary and why is the Enterprise headed for the Tholian sector? A suspenseful novella of deceit, trickery and the loyalty of a few." [in Sahsheer]
• "Where's Captain Kirk?" by Spizz Energi (1980) - "Spock is ordered by Admiral Jenson to planet Helzheitr, near the Neutral Zone, to help the Tholians with a problem involving the spatial and planetary instability in their sector of space. ... Spock's readings disappear as soon as he beams down, and there is no word from him or the Tholians."
• "Addiction" by Simone Mason (1981) - "On a difficult mission, Kirk, Spock, and McCoy are faced with addicted natives, who will die if their drug is stopped, and with the Human settlers who are ready to fight by any means to remain on the planet. Events become a nightmare for the landing party -- and the Tholians are no help."
• "Year of the Ram" by Alexis Fegan Black (1987) - "When an espionage mission to the Tholian Empire goes drastically wrong, Kirk is taken aboard a Tholian vessel, transported into Tholian territory… and surprisingly is not harmed... The Tholian Directive strictly prohibits any contact with his past, and with his properties taken away and his assets obliterated, he must begin a new life... The danger lies in the fact that the Tholians are quite capable of keeping an eye on Kirk through a probe-link. And any deviation from the Directive will result immediately in war – a war which the Federation stands no hopes of winning…"
• "And Yet Afraid" by Addison Reed (1988) - "After a very strange yet wonderful evening ashore with his captain, Spock begins to look at their friendship in a new light, only to be lead into insecurity and confusion by an overheard conversation and the intervention of the Tholians."
• "The Flying Dutchman of the Stars" by A.T. Bush (1990) - "Five years after the Defiantʼs lost in Tholian space, the Enterprise is sent to retrieve the ship from interphase." [in Twilight Trek Issue #1]
• "The SOLAR WIND Saga: First Impressions" by L.G. Frey (1995?) - In the era of STAR TREK:THE NEXT GENERATION, a new starship with a new crew prepares to head off on a First Contact mission to the Tholian Assembly in part one of a multi-part story [in Power Star: The Imagination Anthology Issue #83]
• "Souls in Tension" A SOLAR WIND story by L.G. Frey - The SOLAR WIND is called to investigate reports of a renegade faction of Tholians that have placed "Souls in Tension" [in Power Star: The Imagination Anthology Issue #115]
• Chekov's Enterprise by Randall Landers (1998) - Chekov in command of the new Enterprise on a variety of intertwined missions. Kirk's death/disappearance... Main plot concerns a Tholian "swarm" - based on fire ants - into Federation territory, ending with Chekov presiding over genocide after Spock's unsuccessful negotiations.
• "Return to Xantharus" written by Randall Landers (2001) "Return to Xantharus" is an episodic piece, focusing on Sulu as he now commands the U.S.S. Cooper, a small science survey ship while on a diplomatic assignment to the Barrier Alliance. Unfortunately, the Tholians have plans which may interfere with this mission. Note: Sexual themes. [in Orion Archives: 2284-2323 Captain Sulu]
• "The Road Not Taken" by Brianna Falken (2004) - "After his argument with McCoy while in Kirkʼs cabin, Spock orders the Enterprise out of Tholian space, sacrificing his captainʼs life for the ship." (winner of a Philon Award)
• "Old Feuds" by d. William Roberts (2004) - "Under the command of Captain Shaun Kelsey, the Chosin is dispatched on a mission to determine the nature of the Tholian attacks on the Federation. Unfortunately, they discover a graver threat to the Federation in the Beta Quadrant. Can Kelsey and his brave crew solve the mystery of the Tholians while escaping the terrors of an old foe?" [Orion Archives: 2292-2323 U.S.S. Chosin]
• "Caught in the Web" by Deanna Gray (2007) - "The Enterprise is ordered to return to the area where the Defiant was lost and where the scientific team sent there is not being held hostage by the Tholians."
• "The Tholian Contact" by Jim Ausfahl (2009) - While trying to learn more about the Tholians, the Enterprise is called upon to ferry two aliens to a newly established Tholian colony. And that's where the trouble began... [in Antares Issue #8]

Tholian Art Gallery

• 

  from Interphase #4: "One of Gordon's wonderful comic-style episode spoofs, this one of "The Tholian Web." Lovely little throw-away lines, like Kirk's "I had a whole zine to myself..."

• 

  a Tholian Web handbag, creator and date unknown