Diomedeans have bat wings whereas Ythrians are feathered. Thus, these two flying species differ from each other although both are described by comparing them to Terrestrial organisms.
In Chapter I, Diomedeans, not yet named as such, observe three wingless, tailless, four-limbed, clothed, land animals which we realize might be human beings recently arrived from space.
In Chapter II, two of these land animals, Eric Wace and Sandra Tamarin, converse with each other and refer to their off-stage companion, Nicholas van Rijn.
In Chapter III, van Rijn comes on-stage and roars, "'Death and damnation!'" (p. 150)
Thus, the title character is given an appropriate build-up and the Diomedeans will not know what has hit them.
8 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
If Diomedeans mades such a point of flightless animals having "only" four limbs, that makes me wonder if six limbs is the norm.
Happy New Year! Sean
Sean,
Must be. A Diomedean has two arms, two legs and two wings.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
I was thinking flightless Diomedean animals had either six legs or four legs and two fore paws.
Happy New Year! Sean
Right.
Four or six limbs is one of those 'random' things. Our fishy ancestors developed four fins into limbs. If they'd been a bit longer, it might have been six -- in which case, we'd probably be centaurs.
A good way to put it.
With six limbs, it might have made intelligent life come sooner -- because you wouldn't have to stand upright on two limbs to have manipulatory appendages up front, as it were.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
An intriguing thought! Or even an extra arm a la Pournelle/Niven's Moties?
Happy New Year! Sean
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