"Iron."
"They did hate sensory deprivation, still more than humans do." (17, p. 131)
That reminded me of something but it was Dominic Flandry interrogating a lupine alien by sensory deprivation. This interrogation technique has been a big blog topic. See here. In fact, the blog search result reminds us that, in another story, sensory deprivation is used to interrogate a kzin. See, specifically, Some Parallels.
Poul Anderson fans and regular blog readers, imagine what sensory deprivation would do to a winged Ythrian. They cannot even tolerate the confinement of a spacesuit. If their spacecraft hull is breached, they are dead.
Kaor, Paul!
ReplyDeleteWe have argued about this before, I don't think it would be that odd for many non-human intelligent races to be HUMANOID in their forms. That is, four limbs, bipedal, one head, etc. I would argue that evolution would tend to favor that on many planets. Of course there would be exceptions, like the draco-centauroids of Woden and winged Diomedeans and Ythrians.
Ad astra! Sean
Incidentally, I've always found warlike, cat-like aliens a bit of a stretch. You've got an army of beings who sleep 14 hours a day, are obsessed with food and comfort, and are totally selfish...
ReplyDeleteKaor, Mr. Stirling!
ReplyDeleteSo a warlike race analogous to our dogs and wolves might be more plausible? Such as the lupine like Ardazirho in Anderson's WE CLAIM THESE STARS. A race descended from pack animals might be more willing to stress loyalty to the whole over individualism.
Ad astra! Sean