>
> The Lerner Clan seems very interesting me. According to Maia, they have
> small establishments up-and-down the Eastern Continent. I am curious,
> though, as to how a "cadet" seeking to set up an independent Lerner
> enterprise differs from a var trying to set up her own enterprise.
The difference would be that they already know exactly what
niche they are good at, and are looking for it. As a var myself,
I certainly never had that advantage, and "wasted" years until I
found my niche.
> Certainly, the Lerner cadet enjoys the financial and technological backing
> of the rest of the Clan - but do cadets ever decide to declare
> independence? What if a particularly prosperous cadet wanted to found her
> own lineage?
This is nonsense. She can't found her own lineage, since
her clone children will still be in the original lineage. Now a
lineage COULD split into warring factions. I doubt that is likely,
though. (Do identical twins fight less than other siblings?)
> The lifespan of Lamais (pg 147) is slightly less than 90 Earth-years.
> Despite the pastoral lifestyle, the Stratoians have apparently retained
> much of the advances of modern medicine.
I believe that the advantage is mainly due to better design.
So far we have read about improved kidneys, nictating membranes and
slit pupils. I imagine a number of health-related changes were made
as well.
> Stratoian computers are photon-based. (As opposed to our present-day
> electrical circuit based.) Their use, however, is limited by tradition
> from the Founders to nine devices. One of these devices, curiously, is
> "The Game of Life." If you were going to restrict use of computers to
> nine devices, I don't know that a game would be one of them. There should
> be other forms of entertainment. Unless, of course, the "game" is far
> more than it seems. (pg 155)
Got to keep the men happy. And Life is a safer game for that
than Football...
>
> Maia wonders on pg 161 whether sex might not be greater than the sum of its
> parts. It occurs to me that *love*, as we understand it anyhow, is
> completely absent in Stratoian society.
Not completely. It is still common for men and women to form
somewhat exclusive bonds. They just don't live together. (Hey, that
might not be such a bad idea! : ) )
> -Genetic engineering has also produced an effect whereby the sex drive does
> not start taking hold until later in life. (pg 161) The sex drive is also
> apparently increased after one's first time.
Not really. I believe that what was engineered was that women
would not usually be fertile until they were completely grown, and then
it was easier to have a clone child than a var. After this has been
done, the sex drive would change because of evolutionary pressure.
(Although you remember my earlier doubts on how strong this pressure
would actually be!)
> -Did Maia ever make it through the secret door? (pg 148)
Yes, read on...
>
> -On page 150, Maia says "At least there are no statues." Why?
Because she hated the Lamatian statues.
>
> -What are the remaining six computerized devices? We know of Net
> Terminals, Solar Railroads, and the Game of Life. (pg 155)
I don't see why solar implies computers. A lot of stuff
is solar. (Remember the comment about going into a fight with
"all panels charged"? The metaphor shows the prevalence of solar
panels.)
Hey, I've been thinking about the curse "vrilly". If
"patarkal" is "patriarchal" then "vrilly" should be "verility"
or somesuch?
---David
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
