The small animals called "lucks" by Aenean tinerans but "slinkers" by the Ythrians are always found on planets where there are Ancient ruins. The Ythrians know that the slinker nervous system is a very well-developed telepathic transceiver, amplifying emotions, thus addicting human beings who, when addicted, can no longer control their emotions. Hence, the psychopathic behavior of the tinerans who keep a "luck" in every wagon. Tinerans know that their volatile temperament differs from that of the sedentary population but do not realize that they are addicted, let alone that their lucks are the cause.
Ythrians theorize that the Ancients developed the slinkers as pets that enhanced pleasurable emotions but that the process caused the Ancients to degenerate and eventually to die, leaving many planets with ruined buildings and surviving slinkers.
This explanation is sufficient and there is no reason to doubt it but it is so understated that we can too easily dismiss it as a speculation and forget about it long before we come to read, in a later volume, of Fr Axor's search for a Christian message or meaning in Ancient inscriptions. Ironically, the tinerans revere Ancient ruins and share the common growing belief that They will return soon whereas a far more likely scenario is that the Ancients died from a cause that is slowly killing the tinerans also.
Later, this novel also answers the question: who (which race) were the Ancients?
6 comments:
Hi, Paul!
While the slinkers may or may not have caused the extinction of the Chereionites, we don't know that was the case. Couldn't their extinction have been caused simply by feelings of despair at the futility of life? I'm reminded of the demographic crash we are seeing in so much of Europe.
Also, I'm a bit dubious that the slinkers are slowly killing the tinerans. I agree that, unknown to them, the tinerans are addicted to the slinkers. But it does not seem to be affecting their numbers, their ability or willingness to reproduce, etc.
Sean
We don't know that the slinkers caused extinction but it is a theory and the only one on the table at present. What surprises me is that it is so understated that we can forget about it by the time we are reading THE GAME OF EMPIRE.
If the slinkers' effects on the tinerans continue to increase, then the latter could become so volatile and quick with their knives that their society becomes unviable.
Hi, Paul!
Hmmmm, the slinkers may eventually cause the tinerans to be so volatile and quarrelsome that they become emotionally unable to mate and have children? That would certainly make their society unviable, I agree.
I'm also reminded of how Ivar hoped the tinerans would be assisted in ridding themselves of this addiction once he found out from Erannath what the slinkers were.
Sean
Sean
Here is a Poul Anderson Quiz question: What Planha word is translated as "slinker"?
Hi, Paul!
When I first saw this I had no time to make a serious effort to answer the question you posed. The Planha word Erannath used for Anglic "slinkers" was "liayalre."
I do admit I looked it up in THE DAY OF THEIR RETURN rather than dredging it up from my memory! (Smiles)
Sean
No one could have remembered that!
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