Dominic Flandry gambles, and easily wins, with the Scothani. See TRICKS WITH CARDS AND DICE. Nicholas van Rijn dices for the gemstones which the Diomedeans use as a medium of exchange. We are told:
"The number of species in the galaxy which have independently invented some form of African golf is beyond estimation." (p. 219)
I find that I have never before posted about African golf (craps) and it was with difficulty that I found it under this name in a google search. See here.
We are constantly told that Technic civilization fills only a tiny volume of space near the end of one spiral arm of the galaxy. No one can know how many such civilizations there are, let alone how many forma of African golf they might have.
It continues to be an education.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Considering how, before Terrans discovered Diomedes, metals were simply not available to the native species of this metals poor world, SOME other means would have to be found to be used as cash and a medium of exchange. And gemstones is a reasonable substitute. I recall, with some regret, how Old Nick used loaded dice to win some of those games. Far better to be so skillful at gambling that one would have no need to cheat.
If other intelligent races exist, I am sure they too have their own gambling games. And that some will resemble human games of chance.
Dang! I must have read THE MAN WHO COUNTS four or five times, and I completely missed that "African golf"!
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
But can there be skill in gambling with dice? (I don't know.)
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
I don't know either! But if professional gamblers say dice games can be played with skill, then I am willing to take their word for it.
Ad astsra! Sean
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