Starfarers, 23-24.
On Tahir:
"A large structure stood a hundred meters aside, surrounded by well-tended sward." (24, p. 229)
On another planet, nothing should be taken for granted so what is "sward"? Do not imagine a green lawn. We have already been told that:
"A mossy turf seemed to play the basic role of grass." (23, p. 215)
We have lost count of Poul Anderson's extraterrestrial grass equivalents.
When Zeyd confirms that Tahirian antennae are compasses, he exclaims:
"'Manifold are the works of God.'" (24, p. 230)
But how long will it be before he can express that thought to the Tahirians and hear their equivalent? Communication is not so difficult in CS Lewis's Solar System. Elwin Ransom has to learn a language, of course, but then the Malacandrians/Martians ask in astonishment:
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
I believe "sward" will be one of those English/Anglic words legitimately applied to the grass like analogs of other planets.
Ditto, what you said about the metaphysics of other intelligent races. As yet, we don't KNOW.
Ad astra! Sean
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