One part of sf is satire. Poul Anderson and Gordon R. Dickson use the Hoka and the New Lemurians to make a point about humanity:
"Was that kilted teddy bear really very different from the natives ...or from man?" (p. 78)
The minstrel composes an epic about the slaying of the Sorrow:
during the fight, the Demon transformed "...itself into a raging fire...," (p. 77) threatening to incinerate everyone;
the mere sight of two lords outside the cave made forty-seven attacking demonic kittens turn back and flee underground;
the New Lemurians did not flee but sought their foe.
Hearing this, the individuals concerned agree with the minstrel's account, gloss over any contradictory evidence without realizing that this is what they are doing and even adjust their memories accordingly. Do they really differ from Hoka or from men?
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Of course New Lemurian differ from men and Hokas! They are simply not better than any other FALLEN oxygen breathing race, as Fr. Axor said in Chapter 1 of THE GAME OF EMPIRE.
Sean
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