Related:

• The fungus has been Planet's dominant lifeform since about the time of the Lower Paleozoic on Earth.
  But when, once every hundred million years or so, the neural net at last achieves the critical mass necessary to become sentient, the final metamorphosis kills off most of the other life on the planet....
• Eternity lies ahead of us, and behind. Have you drunk your fill?
  -- Lady Deirdre Skye, "Conversations with Planet", Epilogue...
• We welcome you, earthdeirdre and earthwheat and earthtree as honored gue
  for you add great power to our ancient song-- planetfungus and planetworm and planetmind sing and play here, and you are welcome among us....
• You are the children of a dead planet, earthdeirdre, and this death we do not comprehend.
  We shall take you in, but may we ask this question--will we too catch the planetdeath disease?...
• I believe Planet will talk to us if we are willing to listen.
  These fungal stalks behave as multistate relays: taken together, the neural net connectivity must be staggering....
• No longer mere earthbeings and planetbeings are we, but bright children of the stars!
  And together we shall dance in and out of ten billion years, celebrating the gift of consciousness until the stars themselves grow cold and weary, and our thoughts turn again to the beginning....
• Observe the Razorbeak as it tends so carefully to the fungal bloom
  just the right bit from the yellow, then a swatch from the pink....
• You waited so long to heed us, earthdeirdre, Almost we pruned you, as we may yet prune your branches.
  -- Lady Deirdre Skye, "Conversations with Plane...
• Planet's atmosphere, though a gasping death to humans and most animals, is paradise for Earth plants.
  The high nitrate content of the soil and the rich yellow sunlight bring an abundant harvest wherever adjustments can be made for the unusual soil conditions....