Now in terms of the above–
I remember some interesting science articles from a couple years ago, in which it was posited that communal trees of even *wildly* different species had the ability to communicate via roots (and etc), able to execute communal plans based on impending threats and such, for example a fire / blight / infestation / etc.

Meanwhile, from my completely-amateur studies of ants & termites (thanks E.O. Wilson ❤️), I got the sense that creatures with even very limited neurological-matter (such as individual but social, insect brains) could nevertheless function incredibly well by virtue of pheromones and ‘the hive-mind.’ Such as ants, rather famously.

Anyway, let’s GO:

Fun discussion, or not?

Oh, but the main theme of this really nice (but unfortunately short) book is the ‘transporter dilemma’ from Star Trek, et al. I.e., what part of you gets lost in the official-genetic-replication process, and is it entirely YOU who arrives at the terminus. Like-- does your soul arrive safely, too?

I’ll take sci-fi concepts that scare the hell out of me, Alex!