Wednesday 7 September 2022

Species Psychologies

"Hunters of the Sky Cave," XII.

"'I have been informed that you Terrans often have strong feelings about individuals of the opposite sex,' said Svantozik. 'I was told it will occasionally drive you to desperate, meaningless acts.'" (p. 247)

Sf writers comment on humanity by imagining alien perspectives. Flandry, not revealing any secrets, tells Svantozik that it is easier to manipulate human beings by discouraging them whereas Svantozik informs Flandry that, "'...among the Black People...'":

"'Bad tidings raise the quotient of defiance.'" (p. 244)

Good news from an enemy encourages Terrans whereas it makes an Ardazirho grateful and more amenable.

In Urdahu, "friend" is literally "croucher-in-my-blind." (ibid.)

Flandry's antagonists and sometimes allies are well-imagined aliens, not human beings in exotic bodies.

1 comment:

S.M. Stirling said...

Though in point of fact, humans are apex predators that hunt in packs and have been (and their pre-human ancestors) since the evolution of H. Erectus about 2,000,000 years ago.

So we're not quite as carnivorous as these particular aliens, but close enough for government work.

That's why humans established their first close relationship with another species with wolves.

You might say we're a bipedal chimp that evolved to become more like a wolf.