Multiple replies &c: From ReVibe68 at aol.com: >> Has there ever been a >> professional/amateur effort to graphically depict (i.e. >> draw/paint/psiprint) the animals of the 17 houses? If so, are they >> collected/accessible anywhere, and if not, why not? > > No,no,no; This is not a valid Stupid Newbie Question! > THis is a pretty simple question that I for one never bothered to even > think about. David's links were wonderful, and I thank him for them, but I therefore also take it that there has been no systematic project. I know some of the animals, even now still have mainly adjectival descriptions. > You sir have the perspicacity of a Tiassa, and moreover the piercing > inquisitiveness of an Athyra. I salute you. Why thank you. The GIM (geek in me) truly appreciates (and has long wondered about) the categorization. I've never been sure what house I would categorize myself as, though I am temperamentally drawn to the Tiassa and Hawk (so I'm hoping one of the next Vlad novels will be so named). There should be a Myers Briggs type test for House identification. I note with interest that Steven wrote: >> I also try to steer clear of political arguments, since >> they instantly turn me into a flaming asshole. To which warbi replied: > That's okay, Steve, I already got burned a few days ago for you! And Philip replied: > The Flaming Lips - now there's a good band. Note to self - don't kiss Steven's ass in a political discussion. David wrote: > It's really quite a tragedy; Earthly revolutionary theory doesn't > actually make much sense on Dragaera, where the Empire and its > monarchy really IS ordained and protected by the gods, and controlled > by the cycle. The Teckla revolution has no chance until it's their > turn. Could not the argument be made that the Fenarians are a wildcard? They were part of the Teckla revolution, too. They worship (at least some of) the same gods and are listened to by those gods (sometimes), but they are not part of the cycle. Clearly one small group of humans (or one individual of particular interest) has caused some important ripples in the cycle (if not saved it altogether). The power to break the cycle exists even within Dragaera (Adron), but certainly the cycle can be threatened by external forces (on a grand scale by, for example, the Jenoine, and on a 'civil' scale, perhaps by Humans and Tecklas). Of course _can_ does not mean _will_. Even the Gods answer to ultimate Author-ity. Speaking of Fenarians/humans. is there any speculation on what is keeping _them_ at a medieval technology level over the many hundreds of years of the various story arcs? They always struck me as only a Renaissance away from being able to challenge Dragaeran sorcery-augmented power with conventional technology (plus witchcraft). Even the Interregnum didn't catalyze anything on the human side? Perhaps their Da Vincis have not come around yet. And again, Steven wrote: > I hate pedantic fiction. Hate it. Hate it, hate it, hate it. > I'll have to write something blatently pedantic one of these days. I bet Paarfi would be happy to help if you could keep him from realizing he was being insulted. :-) Noam Help! - or an amazing beer. (What Noam Raphael Izenberg is in desperate need of right now)