"Humans have better night vision than Ythrians." (p. 181)
I did not know that. I would have expected the opposite. I think that Ythrians hunt by night as well as by day. That fact, of superior human night vision, did not exist until Poul Anderson first wrote it either here or in an earlier instalment. But it is one of the many details that make the Technic History seem like real history and its locations, like Ythri, Avalon, Aeneas etc, seem like real places. Ythrians have nictitating membranes. They are awkward on the ground but graceful in the air. They walk on their wings as if on crutches. Claws on wings, used by young to cling to parents, have been adapted as feet. Plus much more: Ythrian biology, sociology, psychology and theology.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
And, by contrast, thousands of years later, Kirkasanters have poor night vision compared to other humans. Because of how their ancestors adapted to the extremely bright night sky of that planet.
Ad astra! Sean
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