Tranzis. Short, simple and to the point. Do you remember what context Ringo and Kratman used it and where?
The essay in the back of
Watch on the Rhine is the first time I remember hearing the specific term "Tranzi" used.
For anybody not familiar with Ringo and Kratman, I'll just say this: Were I a woman, I would want to have their children. Since I am not, I will read their books and laugh as Tranzis are eaten by giant yellow aliens.
The Posleen series is full of humor, seemingly unstoppable marauding alien hordes, questionable and even outright hostile allies, blood by the swimming pool, women with guns and rednecks playing with antimatter. It starts with
A Hymn Before Battle, and really gets going with
Gust Front. I'd recommend it for any male above the age of 12. Seriously, this is a great series, and one of the few alien invasion stories that actually makes sense.
Kratman, by the way, really goes to town on the Tranzis in his new series about a theoretical Space Panamanian (Balboan) mercenary company on a planet called Nova Terra. The
A Desert Called Peace/Carnifex series takes place on a planet populated with deadly flora and fauna that are hostile to intelligent life, like progressivines, tranzitrees, etc. Earth is basically a Tranzi playground, where Amnesty International trades slaves and troublesome populations have all been shipped to Nova Terra. Nova Terra is basically Earth in the late 90's/early noughts. The Salafis are going to war against the USA equivalent, and the Balboans are hired to fight them. Good fun, particularly the wood chipper.
