More On Merseians

A few points missed in the post on "Merseians."

Afal Uroch, whom we mentioned, is not only of the Vach Rueth but also of partial Lafdiguan, republican, ancestry as shown by the yellow tint to his green skin. Although Terrans think of Merseians as "gatortails" or "greenskins," their skin color varies. Although yellow is here mentioned as a sign of Lafdiguan ancestry, when Chee Lan met Olgor hu Freylin, Warmaster of the Republic of Lafdigu, the latter's skin was described as darker than that of Merseians from around the Wilwidh Ocean. She also met Haguan Eluatz, chief of the Gethfennu, Merseian organized crime, whose skin shone black.

We mentioned that a Merseian cruiser was called Tryntaf. When Chee and her companions were in the Korychan System, Tryntaf Fangryf-Tamer, Vach Isthyr, was captain of the space cruiser Yonuar of the United Fleet of the Great Vachs - opponent of Lafdigu, Wolder and the Nersan Alliance. In Flandry's time, the Vachs under the Roidhun, who is of Vach Urdiolch, rule Merseia.

We have now had three mentions of fangryfs:

Tryntaf was nicknamed Fangryf-Tamer;

a fangryf hunted above Tachwyr's castle when, standing on a tower top, he addressed the Grand Council on a multiple screen communication set;

the Merseian Space Navy has Fangryf-type six-male gunboats.

The text informs us that the Fangryfs are "...about midway between the Terran Comet and Conqueror classes..." (Poul Anderson, Flandry's Legacy, New York, 2012, p. 309) So now we know! During the Terran War on Avalon, Philippe Rochefort commanded an even smaller vessel, with a three-being crew, called a Meteor.

When there were believed to be many gods, they had to be differentiated by name. When it came to be believed that there was only one, a differentiating name ceased to be necessary. In some languages, the word "deus," "god" etc came to be used as a name, thus "Deus," "God" etc. The Merseians did not do this. Their monotheists continued to refer to "the God," thus implying that there is no personal relationship between the individual worshiper and the deity. Transcendent, not immanent, he deals with the Race, not with its members.

"...a God beyond infinity..." (A Circus Of Hells, London, 1978, p. 112)