tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22336853353696775782024-02-18T18:00:27.551-08:00The Labors of Ki'shto'ba Huge-HeadThe Seer Thru'tei'ga'ma spoke thus to Ki'shto'ba Huge-Head: "This happens to be a myth of the At’ein’zei that we find ourselves in. One manifestation of unreality. Everything is relative to how you see it, you know. Did it ever occur to you that this tale of yours exists in many worlds? Of course it did not."Lorinda J Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16985567506994751475noreply@blogger.comBlogger121125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2233685335369677578.post-84917412367744727742021-10-12T06:26:00.004-07:002021-10-12T06:33:56.033-07:00Review of The Hidden Palace by Helene Wecker<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKrz38960XuP3Sk1cLOjebx3JEJbuVqdg2d3Lrjhjo3ydBXHx6uAe_ZFIJKA0LoQvPndh1kN5tK8MNp5WU_qmd5jPfyS0VqWhh7RZ5iAydtmEgkoGzDbhvB8K6Pt_2cpD1D8R3pQs9qI/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKrz38960XuP3Sk1cLOjebx3JEJbuVqdg2d3Lrjhjo3ydBXHx6uAe_ZFIJKA0LoQvPndh1kN5tK8MNp5WU_qmd5jPfyS0VqWhh7RZ5iAydtmEgkoGzDbhvB8K6Pt_2cpD1D8R3pQs9qI/" width="160" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.32px;">https://www.amazon.com/Iron-Season-Helene-Wecker-ebook/dp/B075WS4G4K/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1MZLZOYJ285KK&dchild=1&keywords=helene+wecker&qid=1633967685&s=books&sprefix=Helene+Wecker%2Caps%2C1908&sr=1-1</span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><b style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-indent: 0in;">It’s dangerous to play god</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-indent: 0in;"> …</span></p><p style="background-color: #faecec; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background-color: #faecec; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background-color: #faecec; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p><span style="text-indent: 0.3in;">I loved the original volume of The Golem and the Jinni, but I read it some six years ago, so I reread it before beginning this sequel.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.3in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.3in;">As I did so, I realized that there was a lot left hanging at the end, especially where Sophia’s story was concerned.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.3in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.3in;">The sequel tied up most of that and it didn’t disappoint.</span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background-color: #faecec; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.3in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background-color: #faecec; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.3in;">I believe these books could be characterized as urban fantasy, since the turn-of-the-20th-century city of New York plays a huge role; the city comes across as a living, breathing entity, described in lyrical terms. The amount of research that the author must have had to do makes me tired just to contemplate. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background-color: #faecec; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.3in;">It’s interesting to analyze the depictions of the non-human characters. For me, the Golem comes alive more fully than the Jinni does, probably because we’re more familiar with creatures made of the prime elements of Earth and Water than with those made of Air and Fire. And Chava Levy has several advantages that Ahmad lacks; she lost her master before her character was formed and so acquired the ability to read all human minds, and she was mentored by a truly compassionate and deep-thinking Rabbi at the start of her life. Ahmad was already ancient when he was thrust into an alien society that had no interest for him, and it seems that the jinn are self-centered from their inception. Developing the ability to form friendships is nearly an impossibility for a jinni. It makes sense that Chava would adapt more easily to the human condition than the Jinni would.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background-color: #faecec; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.3in;">Then there is the poignant story of the other golem. Chava had the benefit of being created for a master who wanted an intelligent and curious female mate, and while Yehudah Schaalman is the major villain of the piece, he is nevertheless quite skilled at what he does, and he did a pretty good job of creating a golem who could pass for human. Rabbi Altschul, on the other hand, wanted a killing machine who might be able to avenge the pogroms underway in Europe at the time; furthermore he dies before the golem was finished and it was activated before it was complete. Poor Yossele! He is such a pathetic character – the end of the book made me sad, although the conclusion is basically hopeful and positive.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background-color: #faecec; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.3in;">I immediately thought of one of my most favorite lines in all of fantasy literature. It’s from “The Island of the Mighty,” by Evangeline Walton, and it occurs at the very end of Chapter 8. The Welsh god Gwydion has created a woman out of flowers as a mate for his son Llew, who has been cursed to never lie with a human woman. But Blodeuwedd turns out to be as empty and transitory as the flowers she was made from and she betrays her mate, so … “Gwydion rode on alone toward Dinodig, going forth, after the fashion of all orthodox gods, to damn the creature he had fashioned ill …”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background-color: #faecec; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.3in;">Be very careful what you do when you play at being god.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background-color: #faecec; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.3in;">5 stars to this book – highly recommended.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background-color: #faecec; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.3in;">Find my review of the first volume here: http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2013/07/becoming-human-golem-and-jinni-by.html </p>Lorinda J Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16985567506994751475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2233685335369677578.post-57116087387346205792016-07-27T13:01:00.000-07:002016-07-27T13:01:55.819-07:00Updated Trailer from The Story Reading Ape!<div style="text-align: center;">
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Lorinda J Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16985567506994751475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2233685335369677578.post-39462233066615952942016-03-16T09:54:00.000-07:002016-03-16T09:54:36.533-07:00Two More Five-Star Reviews of The Buried Ship at the End of the World<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hktGgsyzBliom7AhJpR-TOJ-Ymm4bRmotDhL7YvulNbHcei8CYrMVbK6LRVvYZPkYQeD_5k-F3DL4CWxesHhfXHF9uvHOQBr81PRPr6i5nTnvKdeOp_UMmtMARBRZscF64vq913h8Pg/s1600/Buried+Ship%252C+t.p.+drawing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hktGgsyzBliom7AhJpR-TOJ-Ymm4bRmotDhL7YvulNbHcei8CYrMVbK6LRVvYZPkYQeD_5k-F3DL4CWxesHhfXHF9uvHOQBr81PRPr6i5nTnvKdeOp_UMmtMARBRZscF64vq913h8Pg/s320/Buried+Ship%252C+t.p.+drawing.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Title page drawing: Is'a'pai'a Gold-Seeker and its helper Krai'zei</span></td></tr>
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<a class="a-link-normal a-text-normal a-color-base" href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R2RP0P0FKAOXVM/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B01B38MK5A&channel=detail-glance&nodeID=283155&store=books" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; text-decoration: none;"><span class="a-size-base a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important; line-height: 19px !important;">A future classic.</span></a></div>
<span class="a-color-secondary" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="a-size-normal" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="a-color-secondary" style="box-sizing: border-box;">By </span>Shebat Legion </span><span class="a-color-secondary" style="box-sizing: border-box;">on February 6, 2016</span></span></div>
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There are very few authors who have mov<span style="color: #111111;">ed me. Lorinda J Taylor is one of them. To take a story and raise it to the level of excellence as Ms. Taylor has done is applause worthy. The best comparison that I can make, should someone ask, is Frank Herbert's Dune meets Richard Adam's Watership Down but that describes the story not at all. I will not even attempt to describe the plot. It would be doing future readers of the series an injustice, for this is a story so unique, so well written, so truly astounding in its character development and story arch, that to attempt a synopsis is daunting. This is a future classic and I cannot praise the works of Lorinda J. Taylor enough. Five stars.</span></div>
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See Shebat Legion's books at this <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shebat-Legion/e/B00BUARZAM/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1458146744&sr=1-2-ent">Amazon</a> link.</div>
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<a class="a-link-normal a-text-normal a-color-base" href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R9WKWP5KIM8BG/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B01B38MK5A&channel=detail-glance&nodeID=283155&store=books" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; text-decoration: none;"><span class="a-size-base a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important; line-height: 19px !important;">Alas, even epics must end.</span></a></div>
<span class="a-color-secondary" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="a-size-normal" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="a-color-secondary" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(85, 85, 85) !important;">By </span><span style="color: black;">John E. Clifford </span></span><span style="color: #555555;"><span class="a-declarative" data-action="cr-popup" data-cr-popup="{"width":340,"title":"AmazonHelp","height":340}" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;"></span></span><span class="a-color-secondary" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(85, 85, 85) !important;">on March 11, 2016</span></span></div>
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Even epics have to come to an end. The adventures of Huge-head and his companions is no exception, alas. So, after they are separated from Huge-head and his Rembrancer, his companions continue their quest to its fated conclusion and their story is cleverly reconstructed here' There is an inevitable decline with the tale that focuses on the second generation, as it were, and the telling at a remove by a less gifted Remembrancer. But there is still much action -- though markedly less violence, as the group has learned peaceful ways -- and humor and marvels galore. So, while we are sad to leave this story, it does end satisfactorily for all concerned, with all the prophecy explained at last and everyone in the right place. This is a fitting conclusion to a great series, all that could have been hoped for and wisely blocked from the temptation to go on.</div>
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Lorinda J Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16985567506994751475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2233685335369677578.post-50994633487958443932016-03-06T08:24:00.001-08:002016-03-06T08:24:22.299-08:00Read an E-Book Week (March 6-12) - Special Prices on Smashwords<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've made all my books 50% off on Smashwords</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fefefe; font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The purchase page will give you a discount coupon to use when paying. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fefefe; font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Imagine getting both volumes of <b>The Termite Queen </b>for only $3.00! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fefefe; font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;">-- or all seven volumes of <b>The Labors of Ki'shto'ba Huge-Head </b>for only $7.00!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fefefe; font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Or if you're not ready to commit to the series, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fefefe; font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;">get started with <b>v.1 The War of the Stolen Mother</b> for only $1.50. </span></div>
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Lorinda J Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16985567506994751475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2233685335369677578.post-87457867041878582142016-02-06T08:53:00.001-08:002016-02-06T08:55:11.628-08:00First Review of Buried Ship - 5 Star!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOr2j2P3ZL0k2lHOPzkV1NnVaq-2OML486aemxKKHs4v7BCMNLtK-aHrEZqxW7iI4qqsy1qrRLjf9XQgo1YkeSqec_sOluAO9n8WCAsbvlfthxzsHCgsk6sPeMTqEYp4lob0LkJGUXUo/s1600/Buried+Ship%252C+front+cover%252C+final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOr2j2P3ZL0k2lHOPzkV1NnVaq-2OML486aemxKKHs4v7BCMNLtK-aHrEZqxW7iI4qqsy1qrRLjf9XQgo1YkeSqec_sOluAO9n8WCAsbvlfthxzsHCgsk6sPeMTqEYp4lob0LkJGUXUo/s320/Buried+Ship%252C+front+cover%252C+final.jpg" width="205" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEhxcRt08ZOC1ZPGIeDDsTzXTLvFDveL5kKw6uDqLO47fhlQiKzq_NngnpGLf_3ecOsek1PUDytGvlZwSMJrzLxuqj5ku0k5sdljyGV-gxnOrowmzscfNoQrc573NH2ezwun2ibO0KiY/s1600/Buried+Ship%252C+back+cover%252C+final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEhxcRt08ZOC1ZPGIeDDsTzXTLvFDveL5kKw6uDqLO47fhlQiKzq_NngnpGLf_3ecOsek1PUDytGvlZwSMJrzLxuqj5ku0k5sdljyGV-gxnOrowmzscfNoQrc573NH2ezwun2ibO0KiY/s320/Buried+Ship%252C+back+cover%252C+final.jpg" width="205" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thanks to Christopher Graham (The Story Reading Ape)!</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Reading this last book of a series, about a group of characters I've grown close to, was a bitter/sweet experience.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Bitter because it's the last time I'll join in with their new adventures.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Sweet because I met new characters, discovered one character who was lost and found out how all the loose ends were neatly tied up by the author.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">I was also reminded of some myths / legends I'd forgotten about.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">The highest accolade I can give this author is - I will definitely be re-reading the series from the start again, probably more than once, so I can learn more about the characters, the legends the stories are based upon and so I can yet again enjoy the work of a Master Storyteller.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Speaking as the author, I wouldn't mind reading the series again myself! I think it will wear well!</span></span></div>
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</span></span>Lorinda J Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16985567506994751475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2233685335369677578.post-1371210473311384132016-01-25T09:30:00.000-08:002016-01-25T09:30:44.324-08:00The Buried Ship at the End of the World Is about to Be Published!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG88ZM-sL5sFRLsSSeCleFJaEJr_dIO1pMH7SdaShoYWCflBr_imXB5FQ2uxxPBQI-ORweE0c2Z4I0122GUlbumH4yC-cbgILHTv6Bmcq3cvNYLQ1LC4nzZkWWzzjiqjYfasEQM8Vqn50/s1600/Buried+Ship%252C+front+cover%252C+final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG88ZM-sL5sFRLsSSeCleFJaEJr_dIO1pMH7SdaShoYWCflBr_imXB5FQ2uxxPBQI-ORweE0c2Z4I0122GUlbumH4yC-cbgILHTv6Bmcq3cvNYLQ1LC4nzZkWWzzjiqjYfasEQM8Vqn50/s320/Buried+Ship%252C+front+cover%252C+final.jpg" width="205" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkzwNiNRUIY0A7FwKFdXWU_VCZ9fjo9cKGinvQgWsP6qsAuuaRISfv5iqOmashhObarKd6vco33LvZN0bDap7BeFamLhcaGPfGDu6QRyEXQYVuuoo3PQqMufQ6kkEyclibpreq23Dcpg/s1600/Buried+Ship%252C+back+cover%252C+final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkzwNiNRUIY0A7FwKFdXWU_VCZ9fjo9cKGinvQgWsP6qsAuuaRISfv5iqOmashhObarKd6vco33LvZN0bDap7BeFamLhcaGPfGDu6QRyEXQYVuuoo3PQqMufQ6kkEyclibpreq23Dcpg/s320/Buried+Ship%252C+back+cover%252C+final.jpg" width="205" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Join me on Facebook on Saturday, January 30, 2016, for an event -- <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1271446109620226/?ref=1&action_history=%5B%7B%22surface%22%3A%22permalink%22%2C%22mechanism%22%3A%22surface%22%2C%22extra_data%22%3A%5B%5D%7D%5D">TermiteWriter Launches The Buried Ship</a> !</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Expect special prices or giveaways on my earlier books, plus fun and good fellowship!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">At last the series The Labors of Ki'shto'ba Huge-Head is coming to an end. A lot of loose ends were left hanging in v.6: Revenge of the Dead Enemy, and it was only right to compose a sequel volume to bring the Quest for the Golden Fungus to a satisfying conclusion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here is the Amazon description of the book:</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">While many of the participants in
the Quest for the Golden Fungus have been lost, the Quest continues under the
leadership of Is’a’pai’a Gold-Seeker. Di’fa’kro’mi’s
Scribe Chi’mo’a’tu, with the help of wandering Remembrancers and the
Star-Brings, undertakes to compose the tale of the final adventures, with the
Seer Da’sask’ni’a as the principal narrator.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As the remaining Companions set
forth on the last leg of their voyage, new additions to the company lead to
both jubilation and tragedy. Then they
must dare the dangerous Wandering Rocks and the Closing Gate before sailing to
the End of the World to find the Fungus.
After planting the reptile’s teeth and dealing with the results,
Is’a’pai’a finally returns home to Hwai’ran’chet, bringing along a surprise
addition to the company – a Sorcerer and Seer who may be far more dangerous
than she appears.</span></div>
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Lorinda J Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16985567506994751475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2233685335369677578.post-33521966624072540282015-12-12T08:36:00.000-08:002016-01-21T13:30:48.536-08:00Life of Hercules: Addendum - Four Twins<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background: rgb(254 , 250 , 251); color: #333333;">Last
(really truly!) of a series. Here are the earlier posts:</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #c929d5;"><a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-life-of-hercules-birth-and-childhood.html" style="color: #75177d; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #75177d; text-decoration: none;">The Life of
Hercules: Birth and Childhood</span></a></span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: #FEFAFB; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 9.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #c929d5;"><a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-life-of-hercules-first-six-labors.html" style="color: #75177d; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #75177d; text-decoration: none;">The Life of
Hercules: The First Six Labors</span></a></span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: #FEFAFB; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 9.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #c929d5;"><a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-life-of-hercules-final-six-labors.html" style="color: #75177d; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #75177d; text-decoration: none;">The Life of
Hercules: The Final Six Labors</span></a></span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: #FEFAFB; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 9.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #c929d5;"><a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-life-of-hercules-digression-into.html" style="color: #75177d; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #75177d; text-decoration: none;">The Life of
Hercules: Digression into the Underworld</span></a></span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: #FEFAFB; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 9.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-life-of-hercules-another-digression.html" style="color: #75177d; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #75177d; text-decoration: none;">The Life of
Hercules: Another Digression (The Calydonian Boar)</span></a></span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: #FEFAFB; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 9.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-life-of-hercules-centaurs-and.html" style="color: #75177d; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #75177d; text-decoration: none;">The Life of
Hercules: The Centaurs and the Erymanthian Boar</span></a></span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: #FEFAFB; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 9.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-life-of-hercules-golden-fleece.html" style="color: #75177d; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #75177d; text-decoration: none;">The Life of
Hercules: The Golden Fleece (The Young Jason)</span></a></span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: #FEFAFB; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 9.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #c929d5;"><a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-life-of-hercules-argonauts.html" style="color: #75177d; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #75177d; text-decoration: none;">The Life of
Hercules: The Argonauts</span></a></span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: #FEFAFB; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 9.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-life-of-hercules-heros-death.html">The
Life of Hercules: The Hero's Death</a></span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I haven't done a mythology post since
last May when I discussed the death of the Champion Hercules. Since then, I've
written the seventh (sequel) volume to my series <i>The Labors of Ki'shto'ba
Huge-Head</i>. It deals with the end of the Quest for the Golden Fungus, which
takes place after the death of our own Champion Ki'shto'ba. Similarly, Hercules
left the Quest for the Golden Fleece before it was finished.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In my post entitled <a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2015/06/in-writing-funk-and-question-that-needs.html">In
a Writing Funk</a> I discussed the Medea problem, and then in a subsequent post
<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2015/09/feeling-more-upbeat-and-cover-reveal.html">Feeling
More Upbeat</a> I talked about my resolution of it. So there is really
only one rather obscure mythological subject that I use in my books that I have
not investigated here on my blog. It involves the tale of the Four Twins.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In the series, I introduced my version of Castor and
Polydeuces (called the Dioscuri, or Sons of Zeus) and mentioned them in my post
<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-life-of-hercules-argonauts.html">Life
of Hercules: Argonauts</a>. The other pair of twins, Idas and Lynceus, who also
sailed on the Argo with Jason, finally turn up in the sequel volume. The name
Idas means simply "of Mt. Ida," so I named his equivalent
Ki'ta'kwai'a, which means "of her (i.e. the Mother's) mountain." The
name Lynceus means "sharp-eyed" (like a lynx, obviously), but I
couldn't use that meaning because Shshi Warriors don't have eyes. But they do
have a sense of smell, so I ramped up the olfactory sense in my Lynceus
equivalent and named it Hai'tof'il'a, which means "smells keenly."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">One
member of both twins was supposed to be the offspring of a god and the other,
of a human father. Polydeuces was considered the son of Zeus, and Idas, of
Poseidon. Rather than get too involved in that sort of thing, I made both my
sets of twins to be offspring of the Highest Mother's King. Thus,
Ti'a'toig'a and Ti'a'gwol'a are called the Shin'ki'no'hna (simply Offspring of
the King) and Ki'ta'kwai'a and Hai'tof'il'a are called the Shin'no'no'gwai'zei
(Offstring of the Sea [King]).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In Greek myth, the two sets of twins were
bitter rivals. Castor and Polydeuces began it by stealing the two women that
Idas and Lynceus were betrothed to. Later they patched up their
differences and went on a cattle raid together. In order to divide the spoils,
Idas proposed an eating contest. They quartered a cow and determined that
whoever should eat his quarter quickest would get the largest part of the
spoils. But Idas cheated, bolting his own portion and then helping his brother
consume his. They then drove the rest of the cattle away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit , serif;">Castor and Polydeuces pursued
them, seized the cattle, and then hid in a hollow tree to await the coming of
their rivals. But the sharp-eyed Lynceus caught sight of them and as they
rushed down, Idas threw his spear at the tree and transfixed Castor, killing
him. Polydeuces rushed out and speared Lynceus, whereupon Zeus intervened and struck
Idas dead with a thunderbolt.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit , serif;">This is all according to
Robert Graves' <i>Greek Myths</i>. He presents some variants of this tale, but
in all the versions, it is only Polydeuces who survives. He and his twin had
been so close that he grieved mightily and prayed to Zeus not to let him
outlive his brother. But it was not fated that he should die right away and was
instead given immortality. This he refused unless his brother Castor could
share it. Ultimately the image of the twins was set in the stars as the
constellation Gemini, and they were made saviors of ship-wrecked sailors, with
the power to bring favorable winds. Robert Graves further states: "In
response to a sacrifice of white lambs offered on the prow of any ship, they
will come hastening through the sky, followed by a train of sparrows."</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">To learn how
I adapted all this in <i>The Buried Ship at the End of the World</i>, you will
have to read the book (although it's best to start at the beginning of the
series). The sequel is finished and formatted for publication, but I don't plan
to publish it until early in 2016. I'll keep everyone informed!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Buy my books
at<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_3_7?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=lorinda+j.+taylor&sprefix=Lorinda%2Caps%2C198"><span style="color: black;">Amazon</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="http://amzn.to/KdNtR1"><span style="color: black;">Amazon.co.uk</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="http://bit.ly/LoekxF"><span style="color: black;">Smashwords</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="http://bit.ly/HZgeRr"><span style="color: black;">Barnes & Noble</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Lorinda J Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16985567506994751475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2233685335369677578.post-71790578594537794882015-10-25T09:30:00.000-07:002016-01-21T13:36:09.281-08:00Scientific Paper on Extraterrestrial Giant Termites<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Nlx2igJRUek-8gRn_bedToWrY7lLXMCIagaOI1J-4hWp6gciFnDaAw68ahimqE0WdRGhlkjftCDhmsdsT92sIoh7WLKug5P57yzpbZfB0gE-E3U4seUQfwOi5_HmuejJpGeyk0xxkQc/s1600/Cladogram%252C+Xenoisoptera.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Nlx2igJRUek-8gRn_bedToWrY7lLXMCIagaOI1J-4hWp6gciFnDaAw68ahimqE0WdRGhlkjftCDhmsdsT92sIoh7WLKug5P57yzpbZfB0gE-E3U4seUQfwOi5_HmuejJpGeyk0xxkQc/s400/Cladogram%252C+Xenoisoptera.jpg" width="336" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cladogram for Xenoisoptera</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Click for larger view</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As some of you may know, I'm working on the sequel volume to <i>The Labors of Ki'shto'ba Huge-Head</i>. At the end of v. 6 I was forced to leave a great big loose thread hanging, and while it was a logical end for the quest of Ki'shto'ba and Di'fa'kro'mi, Is'a'pai'a's Quest for the Golden Fungus wasn't finished. Now I'm getting close to publishing the sequel and I'm considering adding an appendix with the following material. However, as I've been revising the material, I've decided it's rather anticlimactical and I would rather let the book stand as a simple narrative. It's also probably lacking in sufficient expertise on my part to be convincing as a scientific document, although I'm rather proud of the taxonomy and the cladistic chart. So I'm going to publish this pseudo-scientific material here. I would love your opinions, either in comments or direct to me on Facebook or Google+ or by email or wherever. I would especially like to hear from those who have read the basic six volumes. Would you like to see this material at the end of v. 6? (Warning: the following may contain typos or inconsistencies, since I haven't fully edited it.) </span></div>
<h1 style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Appendix A: Taxonomy, Phylogeny, and Cultural Development
of Xenoisoptera</span></h1>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyTextCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">by Prf. Kaitrin
Oliva</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The
evolutionary process of the Shshi peoples on the planet G. Gwidian was never significantly
interrupted by catastrophic extinctions, permitting several discrete species of
intelligent lifeforms to evolve in an orderly progression. These ILFs all belong to the suborder
Megalisoptera of the order Xenoisoptera (G. Gwidian). </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Two additional
suborders have been proposed by the Taxonomy Board – Microisoptera, represented
by several species of rabbit-sized isopteroid NILFs (all weakly jawed
mandibulate nasutoids) existing in isolation on the southwest continent, and
Archaeoisoptera. Both represent important
evolutionary asides in the progression between what must have been an
Earth-sized proto-isopteroid (now extinct) and the present-day
Megalisoptera. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Archaeoisoptera has
been observed in a single holotype designated, called the <i>z’ya’ge’ses’tze| </i>(ancient cursed or evil ones) by the Yo’sho’zei
and encountered twice by Ki’shto’ba and its Companions during the Quest (see v.
2 The Storm-Wing and v. 4 Beneath the Mountain of Heavy Fear). A mountain reconnaissance team during one of
the later expeditions to G. Gwidian salvaged a carcass of <i>A. giganticus</i>. Genetic
evidence indicates it is either an atavism or a nearly extinct vestige of an
early branch on the isopteroid evolutionary tree. The evolution of the <i>z’ya’ge’ses’tze| </i>appears to have favored size and aggressiveness
over intelligence, vision, and speech; in this suborder the development of the
lobes of the xenoisopteroid brain designated the <i>cerebrum sapiens</i> and the <i>lingual
ganglia</i> appears to have been suspended at a primitive stage. Encountering such a creature might be
comparable to an Earther’s suddenly meeting up with a carnivorous
australopithecine twice as big as the near-extinct terrestrial primate called
the gorilla. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Megalisoptera is
distinguished from other suborders first of all by its size, which can range
from as small as 60 cm. in length in the Tender Subcaste of the Northern
Nasutes (the smallest species) to the large and heavily built Da’no’no Shshi
Warriors, which average about 130 to 140 cm.
Our giant hero, Ki’shto’ba, measured in at 153 cm. and Twa’sei probably
was something like 80 to 85. <i>Archaeotermes</i> probably grows to three meters,
twice Ki’shto’ba’s size.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Secondly,
Megalisoptera possesses unique double digits on their front claws, with joints
and musculature that allow their bearers to grasp objects and perform delicate
manipulations. They may lack an
opposable thumb, but they do not lack “manual” dexterity! By contrast, Microisoptera possesses
segmented but jointless single tarsi on all legs, and in <i>Archaeotermes </i>the forelegs are tipped with long, powerful, almost
crab-like pincers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Thirdly, the brain of
Megalisoptera is evolved for reasoning, self-awareness, and language
capability; and the compound eyes and visual cortex of the Alate are unique
among all known insectoid visual structures.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">All the isopteroids of
G. Gwidian possess the fontanelle that distinguishes higher terrestrial
termites, but the presence or absence of a functioning frontal gland is one of
the features that differentiate the families of Megalisoptera. In Xenomacrotermitidae, to which our Shum’za
and Da’no’no Shshi belong, the gland is vestigial in all but certain Worker Subcastes. By contrast, Warriors of the true nasute
family Xenonasutitermitidae (Sa’ti’a’i’a’s people) possess fully developed,
acid-spraying nasi, and the family Brevirostritermitidae (that is, termites
with short rostra) are nasutoids, having Warriors with mandibles as well as
frontal glands that expel varying types of defensive secretions. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Other distinctions
among the families involve feeding requirements, configuration of the gut,
length and shape of various body parts, etc.
I refer readers to Appendix B if they are interested in the details of
these traits. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I must confess that
the methodology employed to differentiate among families and species involves a
combination of hard science with hearsay.
The Shum’za have been well studied; the specimens acquired during the
late Prf. Griffen Gwidian’s first visit to the eponymous planet have been
picked over and analyzed <i>ad nauseum</i>. He was the first scientist to recognize and
describe the separate species that Di’fa’kro’mi and Ki’shto’ba represent. He originally gave the Shum’za (or
Little-Heads) the tentative name of <i>Xenotermes
giganteus</i>, but he was honored posthumously by having that species renamed <i>Xenomacrotermes gwidiani</i>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Ki’shto’ba’s taxon has
been designated <i>X. magnus</i>. Prf. Jana Lindeman had a chance to inspect
the internal structure of this species when we were given permission to observe
the work of the Charnel Hall during my first visit to the fortress of
To’wak. (Shshi have an amazing knowledge
of their own internal anatomy, arising from their practice of dismembering and
consuming their dead). Prf. Lindeman’s
observations as well as DNA comparisons have confirmed a close phylogenetic
relationship between the peoples represented by Di’fa’kro’mi and Ki’shto’ba.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The inclusion of a
second genus (the Desert Shshi, <i>Hesperotermes
siccus</i>) in the same family as the Shum’za and the Da’no’no Shshi is more
problematical. To this point no scientific
team has ever made contact with this xenophobic people, so without DNA evidence
or any hands-on or even visual inspection we have to rely on the reportage of
Di’fa’kro’mi. He was a trustworthy
observer, but he never bothered to make a careful count of the number of his
hosts’ belly segments! </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It is possible to
construct a strong case for placing <i>H.
siccus</i> in the same family as <i>X.
magnus</i>. Both display certain similar
external features, namely, basic mandible shape, a long antenna, a flattened
pronotal shield, the presence of similarly configured cerci, and the absence of
a developed nasus. However, there is an
argument to be made for placing the genus of the Desert Shshi in the southern
family Brevirostritermitidae. Mandible
configuration is similar to that of the Marchers and the loss of a functioning
nasus in the Warrior caste could be an environmental adaptation (to prevent
fluid loss). </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Cultural phenomena in
themselves (such as the practice of cultivating Little Ones for their honeydew)
might indicate social contact between species but would have no direct bearing
on evolutionary relationships. However, the
religious beliefs and language of the Southern Nasutes and the Wei’gwai’mi
Shshi suggest a lengthy interaction between the two peoples. Di’fa’kro’mi’s observations (and I
interrogated him thoroughly on the subject) indicate that Wei’gwai’mi Shshi
speech is a dialect of the Southern Nasute sublanguage. The secretive desert religion, of which
little is known, may display characteristics that link it with cave worship
than with the religion of the sky. I
would personally favor classifying <i>H.
siccus</i> with Brevirostritermitidae until there is more conclusive scientific
evidence, but the Interplanetary Board on Cladistics and Taxonomy has seen fit
to insert it along with the flatlanders in Xenomacrotermitidae. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The family of
Xenonasutitermitidae (true nasutes) includes only one known species. Their Warriors possess stubby vestigial
mandibles and rely entirely on acid spray for defense. I was privileged to spend much time among
these Northern Nasutes during my third visit to G. Gwidian; they are a
peaceable and cooperative people and actually allowed Prf. Lindeman to dissect
one of their dead amid hovering Charnel Workers and under the watchful observation
of Alates. Therefore, our knowledge of
this species is quite complete.<i> </i>I recommended to the Board that the
Northern Nasutes be named <i>Longirostritermes
lindemani</i>,<i> </i>but they elected to
honor me by conferring the name of <i>Longirostritermes
olivai</i>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The family Brevirostritermitidae
(the “short-beaked” mandibulate nasutoids of the south) encompasses two genera
and three species, one of which includes three subspecies. The Northern Nasutes warned me against
visiting either the Marchers or the Sta’ein’zei, and so we do not have indisputable
DNA proof of the position of the Shkei’akh’zei on the phylogenetic tree, even
as is the case with the Desert Shshi.
However, the full development of the nasus and several other anatomical
features (several of my informants happened to remember the number of their
belly segments) convincingly link them with the southern nasutoids (a
suggestion that would probably kindle considerable wrath in the True Believers
on both sides of the dispute!) </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I did, however, spend
time among the At’ein’zei and I also visited the Gwai’sho’zei, where I was
privileged to encounter some Yo’sho’zei individuals. Unfortunately, there was no opportunity for
any hands-on examination of any of these peoples, but our scientists were able
to acquire dung samples and duff from fortress floors, ensuring a reasonably
accurate DNA evaluation. This,
supplemented with visual, cultural, and linguistic observations, has enabled us
to credibly determine taxonomic relationships among the southern peoples. There is no doubt that the At’ein’zei and the
Sta’ein’zei are the same species. They
speak a mutually comprehensible language and are able to interbreed but diverge
considerably in culture because of their long separation by geographical
features. As concerns Gwai’sho’zei and
Yo’sho’zei, their speech is nearly identical and their cultures are closely
entwined. They are considered subspecies
of <i>Longignathotermes maritimis</i>, the
long-jawed, coastal people, and might have the ability to interbreed if a taboo
against such a practice had not arisen in earlier times.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I never made contact
with the third subspecies of <i>L. maritimis</i>,
the Yus’thaim’zei (People of the Western Islands). When Prf. Allen Whitfield flew to the End of
the World in 249, he never landed at any of the island fortresses of the
Yus’thaim’zei, and all of the Island Warriors who had joined Is’a’pai’a’s
expedition had died. However, he was
able to take samples from Nei’ga’ta’tzi, the Yus’thaim’zei Mother of
Mor’gwai’chet (she was eager to help him advance his “knowledge-magic,” in
fact). He also took DNA from
Lo’swai’pai’zei, who is a hybrid of the Gwai’sho’zei and the
Yus’thaim’zei. It has been established
beyond doubt that these two peoples are subspecies of <i>L. maritimis</i>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I should mention that
flyovers in the delta regions of the river Lo’krin’zei yielded glimpses of a
variant species of long-jawed Shshi whose Warriors clearly possessed horns on
their heads (reminiscent of the mysterious creature who did battle with
Lug’tei’a in the Valley of Thorns).
However, we never landed in that area and have no information on that
people.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Order of Megalisoptera
appears to have evolved from a single prototype that developed in the period
when tectonic processes were beginning to drag the southern and northern
continents apart. More investigation is
needed to determine exactly where this took place, but it is likely to have
occurred in the southern areas of the nascent northern continent and possibly
east of the present day Southern Sea.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">DNA analysis indicates that
the proto-isopteroids were probably true nasutes that developed a mandibulate
nasutoid branch at a time when the planet had a wetter climate. Both branches began to diffuse to the north,
east, and west, adapting to their environment as they went. It is unknown if they ever spread into the
southern continent; if so, they must have become extinct in that increasingly
arid region.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As the plains regions lost
their forests and dried into savanna, some of the nasutoids evolved into the
Xenomacrotermitidae, losing their intestinal protozoa and the defensive
function of their frontal glands. With
lignin becoming scarce in that ecosystem, they became fungus farmers like some
of the terrestrial counterparts, supplementing their diet with cytoplasmic
material such as flowers, fruits, and leaves, and by the “honey dew” produced
by their domesticated formicidiforms.
They are very well adapted to their environment and today are the most
numerous and widespread of the species.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The true nasutes
managed to survive with the fewest adaptations by keeping to themselves and
avoiding conflict with their neighbors.
They have retained their intestinal parasites and are perhaps 98%
lignivorous, never adopting fungus farming, although they will occasionally
consume some cytoplasmic foods. The nasutoids,
on the other hand, kept their protozoa and remained dependent on lignin as a
primary food source, while increasing their survival chances by becoming
omnivorous and both farming and gathering fungus, fruits, and leaves. As a group they are the most warlike of the
different species, each of which evolved weapons-grade nasi with specialized
functions.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Archaeotermes giganticus</i> is apparently fully carnivorous. None of the advanced species evolved
carnivory, even though they supplement their protein intake by consuming their
dead. However, the Desert Shshi (<i>Hesperotermes siccus</i>) are known to eat
the flesh of reptiles, most likely developing this trait out of necessity in
their hostile ecosystem. And the
Intercaste Thel’tav’a, who was reared by <i>A.
giganticus</i>, flourished on a flesh diet and taught Za’dut to like
shellfish. This is evidence that the
Shshi are highly adaptable to the environments in which they find themselves.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> As both the nasutes and nasutoids followed the
shrinking forests northward and westward, they were cut off from the south by
the rise in sea level that produced the Southern Sea perhaps 100,000 years
ago. The migrants became more and more
densely packed into the forested areas, with nowhere to expand except into the
cold uplands. Hence they evolved an
increased tolerance for both high altitudes and cold weather, with a lower
“chill-coma” point than their flatland cousins.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Inbreeding contributed
to the preservation of mutations and so to a rapid differentiation of
species. The southern nasutoids in
particular developed a xenophobic temperament and a secretive, often bellicose
culture. By contrast, the denizens of
the open plains developed the custom of roaming far afield in the search for
fertile alates and habitable land, thus discouraging the perpetuation of
eccentric traits. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The true nasutes
probably migrated from the south at a very early time, retaining their identity
even as they were continually pushed farther and farther north by subsequent
waves of migration. Before the forests
receded to their present limits, the Northern Nasutes must have ranged widely
over the plains, staying in contact with their flatland kin longer than did the
nasutoids. The Shshi’s oral history
fades into myth in a span of years not much longer than the two-antennae count
of the Shum’za, which is thirty-six.
However, my comparative studies of Shshi languages, religion, and
folklore indicate that the tribes of Di’fa’kro’mi and Sa’ti’a’i’a share more
common cultural ground than either does with the mandibulate nasutoids. The Creation Myths of the Little Heads and
the Northern Nasutes are quite similar.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It was the
prototypical Marchers who undoubtedly followed closely on the tails of the true
nasutes as they moved northward. They
speak a dialect that is closely related to the language of their Northern
Nasute kin, reinforcing my theory that they spent much of their history in
contact with the Shrin’ok Da’vra, or even living intermingled with them. The loss of forestation and the pressure of
continuing migration finally squeezed both the Northern Nasutes and the
Shkei’akh’zei into their present restricted homelands.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">From a genetic
standpoint, the Northern Nasutes are the oldest species, preserving more archetypal
DNA than any of the other peoples.
However, the language of the Yo’sho’zei (whose name appropriately enough
means the “Ancient Ones”) appears to have remained closest to the unified ancestral
speech. The many myths of the Yo’sho’zei
are especially complex and diverse, with a dark and pessimistic quality that is
rare among the plains dwellers. Perhaps
this preservation of root forms derives from living for centuries separate from
the rest of the Shshi population<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="start"></a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Although the myths of
every people may incorporate demons and other types of spiritual entities, all
species are monotheistic and worship a nameless mother goddess. She is recognized as a sky-goddess among the
plains dwellers and the Northern and Marcher Nasutes and as a ground-dwelling
deity among the Shrin’ok Da’wai, who inhabit the regions south of the Valley of
Thorns. We know very little about the
goddess of the Desert Shshi, but she appears to be much more abstract and
universalized. Among the three
subspecies of <i>Longignathotermes</i> <i>maritimis</i> (known collectively to the
rest of the Shi world as the Shei’kwai, or people living Beyond the Mountains)
there seems to be a dichotomy in the mother goddess. They worship both a Sea Mother but also a
Cave Mother (all known as <i>ta’ta’wa’tze|</i>
(literally, the very female not-created one).</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-indent: 0.3in;">The Mother’s King,
which is almost nonexistent among Di’fa’kro’mi’s people and plays only a
limited role among the Da’no’no Shshi, assumes a more significant role in the
South.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.3in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Among the Shrin’ok Da’wai and the
Shei’kwai, the Mother may have many Kings, some of whom she devours and some of
whom she sets over particular aspects of her creation; thus we have the King of
the Dead (Wei’tei’no’hna) , the Sea King (called Guoi’me’uh’hma’no’</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large; text-indent: 0.3in;">tze in the maritime language), the enchanted King called Kya’hma’no’tze (First
King) in the tale of Ju’a’a’mu’a Spear-Puller, etc.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The ur-nature of the principal
deities is purely speculative, but one would expect an ILF evolving from mostly
blind, ground-breeding creatures of the darkness to worship forces that
developed in the ground. Perhaps
migration into regions of vast open skies and the growing ascendancy of the
eyed Alate Caste among the plains dwellers played roles in turning the concept
of deity outward and upward. And for
peoples who live on the seacoast and have learned to build boats and navigate
the oceans, viewing the Great Water as a source of divine creation makes
considerable sense.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In the light of all
that we know, no one can deny that the Shshi constitute an intelligent
lifeform, however primitive in technology or “non-human” in form and
behavior. Evolutionary and cultural
biases predispose Earthers to accept primatoid peoples like the Te Quornaz, the
Morlasa, or the Chu-sneians (green hair notwithstanding!) as closer to ourselves. And our affection for avians makes us
consider a human-sized eagle skilled in oral speech more acceptable than a
“repulsive” giant bug that can reason, suffer, and love but not communicate in
a familiar way. Let us hope that the
works bequeathed to us by Di’fa’kro’mi the Remembrancer in the Earth-year 242
(old cal. 2997) will deepen our perceptions and help us to accept with more
humility the awesome diversity of the universe.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<h1 style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc432769266"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc301178417"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc12508143"></a>Appendix
B: Outline of Taxonomy, Order Xenoisoptera (G. Gwidian)</span></h1>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">[Note: In thirtieth century parlance, if the name of
a terrestrial taxon is duplicated for an extraterrestrial organism, the prefix <i>xeno- </i>is applied. When an Order has been identified on more
than one extraterrestrial planet, the name of the planet is parenthetically
affixed. The designation of the “race”
in the Shum’za language and its translation into Inj appears in parentheses
following each species name.]</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Suborders<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .3in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Archaeoisoptera:</b> one species, <i>Archaeotermes giganticus,</i> identified from a single holotype.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Microisoptera:</b> five tentatively identified species on the
Southwest Continent</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .3in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Megalisoptera: </b> three families, seven identified species. Distinguished by its size (taking all Castes
into consideration, individuals range between 65 and 150 cm.); double-clawed
front tarsi jointed for grasping; the presence of a uniquely efficient compound
eye in the Alates; and a large, highly evolved brain.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Families and Species of the Suborder Megalisoptera<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I. <b>Xenomacrotermitidae</b>
(non-lignivorous and primarily fungivorous, lacking wood-digesting intestinal
flagellates; frontal gland in soldiers vestigial and embedded; pronotal shield
flattened; labrum broad and triangular with rounded tip; antenna at least 18
segments; hindgut short and not coiled; 11 abdominal segments; front tarsi have
4 jointed segments; labial palps, 3 segments; maxillary palps, 6 segments)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A.
<i>Xenomacrotermes gwidiani</i>
(Shum’za [Little-Heads])</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .7in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(soldier mandibles moderately
elongate, sickle-shaped and crossing in dorsalview, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .7in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">nearly edentate, snapping; 18
antenna segments; cerci lacking)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">B. <i>Xenomacrotermes
magnus</i> (Da’no’no [Very Large] Shshi)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .7in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(soldier mandibles short, slightly
bowed upward and parallel, one basal crenation,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .7in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">biting or slicing; 18 antenna
segments; cerci present, 1 segment)</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">C. <i>Hesperotermes siccus</i> [i.e. western, dry]
(Wei’gwai’mi [Desert] Shshi) [disputed</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: .7in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">taxon]</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: .7in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(adaptationally carnivorous; soldier
mandibles short, slightly bowed upward and </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: .7in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">parallel, large marginal teeth, biting or
slicing; slender antenna, 20 segments;</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: .7in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">cerci present, 1 segment; frontal gland
vestigial in soldiers with visible pore, no</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: .7in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">nasus; gut conformation and number of
belly segments undetermined)</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: .7in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">II. <b>Xenonasutitermitidae</b>
(95% lignivorous, possessing wood-digesting flagellates; true nasute with
drawn-out tubular nasus and acid-producing frontal gland; soldier mandibles
reduced to stubs; thorax attenuated in relation to abdomen, with narrowed
pronotal shield; labrum narrowed and crenate; 15 antenna segments; hindgut long
and coiled; 12 abdominal segments; front tarsi has 3 jointed segments;
maxillary palps, 5 segments; cerci lacking)</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">
<span style="font-size: large;">A. <i>Longirostritermes
olivai</i> [i.e., long beaked] (Shrin’ok Da’vra [Northern</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2CxSpLast" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .7in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Nasutes])</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">III. <b>Brevirostritermitidae</b> (natively
lignivorous, but adaptationally herbivorous; presence or absence of
wood-digesting flagellates undetermined; mandibulate nasutoid with cone-shaped
rostrum, pointed or blunt; thorax attenuated in relation to abdomen, with
pronotal shield strongly curled upward; labrum narrowed and apical; 15 or fewer
antennae segments; gut configuration undetermined; 12 abdominal segments; front
tarsi has 3 jointed segments; maxillary palps, 5 segments; cerci lacking or
vestigial)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A. <i>Brevignathotermes
tenax</i> [i.e., short-jawed, sticky] (Shrin’ok Kei’akh</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .7in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">[Marcher
Nasutes])</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .7in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(soldier
mandibles short, relatively straight and parallel, two molar processes on </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .7in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">each
mandible; narrowed pronotal shield; 15 antenna segments; moderately</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .7in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">pointed,
cone-shaped nasus and frontal gland expelling sticky chemical; cerci </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .7in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">lacking)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">B.<i> Longignathotermes
cruciform</i> [i.e., long-jawed, crossing] (Shrin’ok Da’wai</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: .7in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">[Southern
Nasutes])</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: .7in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(soldier mandibles elongate, relatively straight and
acutely cruciform, may taper </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: .7in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">and/or be slightly hooked or S-shaped; pronotal shield of
reduced size; 15 antenna </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: .7in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">segments; sharply pointed nasus and frontal gland
expelling a gaseous poison; </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: .7in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">cerci lacking)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">C. <i>Longignathotermes
maritimis</i> [i.e., long-jawed; coastal] (Shei’kwai [Beyond</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .7in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">the
Mountains])</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .7in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(soldier
mandibles highly elongate, edentate; pronotum has upturned shield </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .7in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">abutting the
head; 10 antenna segments, with pedicel extended; bluntly pointed </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .7in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">nasus with
acid-producing frontal gland; vestigial cerci)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .9in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">i. Subspecies <i>Longignathotermes maritimis </i>rectus [i.e., straight] (Gwai’sho’zei </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">[Water
People])</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(soldier
mandibles straight or slightly bowed downward in lateral view)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .9in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">ii. Subspecies <i>Longignathotermes
maritimis </i>aduncus [i.e. hooked] </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(Yo’sho’zei
[Ancient People])</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(soldier
mandibles twisted and crossed, sharply bowed downward in lateral </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">view;
abdomen marked with a latitudinal stripe)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .9in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">iii. Subspecies <i>Longignathotermes maritimis </i>Hesperus [i.e. western]</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(Yus’thaim’zei
[People of the Western Islands])</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(soldier
mandibles straight and moderately bowed downward in lateral view;</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">shorter
than Gwai’sho’zei mandibles)</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<br /></div>
Lorinda J Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16985567506994751475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2233685335369677578.post-59860839023873698662015-09-14T07:00:00.000-07:002016-01-21T13:35:29.087-08:00Feeling More Upbeat -- and a Cover Reveal!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhDMALEgxclXITIIxrEwA-KuhIve12WOhPdYPGjdWBRtjrEbc6BohWxxwSu4kM1i_P5TAHp4lSJ1GlTgFleJUG3S57BsNUxonRO7L-U7BL8FIfOYC4Cua28FBw_RpsNtVeAbQ49FWnfY/s1600/Cover%252C+Front%252C+Buried+Ship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhDMALEgxclXITIIxrEwA-KuhIve12WOhPdYPGjdWBRtjrEbc6BohWxxwSu4kM1i_P5TAHp4lSJ1GlTgFleJUG3S57BsNUxonRO7L-U7BL8FIfOYC4Cua28FBw_RpsNtVeAbQ49FWnfY/s320/Cover%252C+Front%252C+Buried+Ship.jpg" width="206" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The White Bird leads Mor'gwai</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">through the Wandering Rocks</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Click for larger view)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwb5XgMnHhVtXJubE6MNQc4qqi1-tPrzJkdC2Bq5aF2Su66z4iyzAz5GSddyqyVt49sefvrS7h17LU5xVG4CU76gpDmwSW_MA9AedAayuv4D1cUrpGAfITBJcM4Z1ZqeHLmvkAEqcQg_Q/s1600/Buried+ship%252C+Back+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwb5XgMnHhVtXJubE6MNQc4qqi1-tPrzJkdC2Bq5aF2Su66z4iyzAz5GSddyqyVt49sefvrS7h17LU5xVG4CU76gpDmwSW_MA9AedAayuv4D1cUrpGAfITBJcM4Z1ZqeHLmvkAEqcQg_Q/s320/Buried+ship%252C+Back+Cover.jpg" width="205" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Back Cover, with Map and</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Illustration of Is'a'pai'a and Krai'zei</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Click for larger view)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I've finished the first revision of <i>The Buried Ship at the End of the World</i>,<i> </i>the sequel to the six-volume series <i>T</i><i>he Labors of Ki'shto'ba Huge-Head</i>. I expect to publish it within a couple of months, so I thought I would reveal the cover art. I've also done the two maps for the paperback and the colored version for the back cover, but I haven't put them up yet on the Map page. This will be the cover unless I come up with something better. The problem is not to give away too much of the plot of either this volume or the sixth volume, so subject matter is limited. Comments are welcome!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> I was pretty disgruntled when I wrote the blog post back in June, but things have gotten a little better. I finally figured out how to adapt the horrific Medea story -- it's still horrific, but more in keeping with the culture and the inhabitants of the world in which I laid it. The style and tone are different from the other six volumes in the series, but that makes some sense since it's not written by Di'fa'kro'mi the Remembrancer. After all, intelligent termites are just like humans-- no two authors write exactly alike! Besides, we have a different narrator in this book. I like the story pretty well, better than I thought I would when I was writing the early chapters.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> But I can't help being a little sad. I won't be writing any more books about this particular cast of termite characters and I'm going to miss them so much! I've pondered several different takes -- a Sherlock Holmes adaptation, even a retelling of Huckleberry Finn, all in the context of the termite culture. And then there is the possibility of a story laid several thousand years into the future, after the Shshi have become high tech and are about to fly off to the stars themselves. In the meantime, <i>The Man Who Found Birds among the Stars </i>beckons. So what <i>will </i>I do next?</span><br />
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Lorinda J Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16985567506994751475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2233685335369677578.post-80687696180499308272015-09-12T13:09:00.000-07:002015-09-12T13:09:21.543-07:00New Five-Star Review of Revenge of the Dead Enemy<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9RRw1_FQOydVGOx2241OKaxoFsb3ONS_RmgFOPDqXVn64GeTh8rs-oS4r4Woe1-lftrNi38PHsBwYfORzqZuEvYIk3jTl9DxM-6yI6KFqRzHNkLNSKC_lNMpwZ0lUTRvQ_Wu7oiez_M/s1600/Revenge%252C+Cover+Art+%2528front%2529++%2528final%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9RRw1_FQOydVGOx2241OKaxoFsb3ONS_RmgFOPDqXVn64GeTh8rs-oS4r4Woe1-lftrNi38PHsBwYfORzqZuEvYIk3jTl9DxM-6yI6KFqRzHNkLNSKC_lNMpwZ0lUTRvQ_Wu7oiez_M/s320/Revenge%252C+Cover+Art+%2528front%2529++%2528final%2529.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
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<b>Five Stars to John Clifford for a great review</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>of v.6 and the whole series!</b></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
This is a review of the whole series, including the the prequel, The Termite Queen. All of the best of all of the great epics from Ur to Iceland in one smooth flowing story, with a lovable cast of heroes, many of whom play surprising roles once you think you have them pegged from one epic, and a cast of villains both thoroughly detestable and occasionally pitiable. All the themes are here, all the feats, and yet the stories are fresh and exciting. Pretty amazing for a story about a group of intelligent termite of various species, but they are social creatures with all the problems that entails and so super human (termite?) responses are called to meet them. And those efforts have all too human consequences for termites as well. So the epic flows on in a natural (though, for those involved, a foreordained) way from feat to feat. And yet, alas, we end with one path finished but another begun and dropped. I have not yearned for the next step, a new epic built on this, so much since the latest volume of Song of Ice and Fire, more so even than Harry Potter. But it is in the works!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>What writer wouldn't relish being compared to</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Song of Fire and Ice?</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>See this review and two other 5-star reviews </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>of this book on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Labors-Kishtoba-Huge-Head-Six-Revenge/dp/150298668X/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1442087049&sr=8-9&keywords=lorinda+j.+taylor">Amazon</a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>and also view my books on <a href="http://amazon.co.uk/">Amazon.co.uk</a>,</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://bit.ly/LoekxF">Smashwords</a> and <a href="http://bit.ly/HZgeRr">Barnes & Noble</a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>And watch this blog for a cover reveal on the sequel volume!</b></div>
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Lorinda J Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16985567506994751475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2233685335369677578.post-82536433827033695062015-06-11T12:52:00.001-07:002015-06-11T12:52:14.414-07:00In a Writing Funk - and a Question That Needs Answering<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR8TozGFtD0MCqPyWXzWh7EgExGTvIEZIbw4uNt1jwZSDVKRdghyF6IUfqBMwOHPMqbM0ECUbA8Y9sbr7vAQhn8oGCu9UiNi2skAeQTcWL_KFRzweVBUF7VckSANXmWm7Zc24utVoydrY/s1600/funk-mood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR8TozGFtD0MCqPyWXzWh7EgExGTvIEZIbw4uNt1jwZSDVKRdghyF6IUfqBMwOHPMqbM0ECUbA8Y9sbr7vAQhn8oGCu9UiNi2skAeQTcWL_KFRzweVBUF7VckSANXmWm7Zc24utVoydrY/s320/funk-mood.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looks just like me!</span><br />
<a href="https://markrambles.wordpress.com/2011/08/26/how-to-get-out-of-your-funk/">https://markrambles.wordpress.com/2011/08/26/how-to-get-out-of-your-funk/</a><br />
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I've been working for some time now on writing the sequel to the series <em>The Labors of Ki'shto'ba Huge-Head</em>. Anyone who has read the entire series (and unfortunately that isn't very many people -- you all don't know what you're missing) knows that while a number of things are satisfactorily resolved by the end of v. 6, the Quest for the Golden Fungus isn't finished and there are a great many loose ends flapping around. I feel I owe it to my readers to write the remainder of the Quest and tie everything up.</div>
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My problem is, I've written probably half of it and still have no inspiration for that book. It's like I wrote myself out with v. 6 and when I lost some key characters, the remaining characters went flat. I can't even get interested in Is'a'pai'a, who was such a well-developed and likable character throughout the original series. Once Is'a'pai'a became the main Champion, it just turned blah. And I miss Di'fa'kro'mi's voice. I think I figured out a decent POV character, but it just isn't the same.</div>
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I also have difficulty with the Medea character. Medea really was pretty unsavory in the myths. Here is a quotation from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medea">Wikipedia</a> concerning what happens when Jason and Medea return to Iolcus to confront Pelias: </div>
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"While Jason searched for the Golden Fleece, Hera, who was still angry at Pelias, conspired to make Jason fall in love with Medea, who Hera hoped would kill Pelias. When Jason and Medea returned to Iolcus, Pelias still refused to give up his throne. [According to Robert Graves, Pelias has killed Jason's mother and father also.] So Medea conspired to have Pelias' own daughters kill him. She told them she could turn an old ram into a young ram by cutting up the old ram and boiling it in magic herbs. During her demonstration, a live, young ram jumped out of the pot. Excited, the girls cut their father into pieces and threw him into a pot. Having killed Pelias, Jason and Medea fled to Corinth."</div>
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It's hard to see ending the book with an adaptation of that. My Medea character may be devious, but I can't see Is'a'pai'a being duped into allowing something like that to happen. In <em>The Wood Where the Two Moons Shine</em>, Is'a'pai'a had sworn to allow Wei'thel'a'han (the Pelias character) to live if the Golden Fungus is brought back and Pelias swore to leave the fortress's Mother in peace. But yet if I concoct a "they all lived happily afterward" ending, it seems too facile and certainly doesn't pay homage to the myth.</div>
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However that may be ...</div>
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I hit my peak of writing between 2000 and 2010. I went from the end of the Ki'shto'ba series to <em>The Man Who Found Birds among the Stars</em>, then got bogged down in that humongously long piece, and finally threw in the towel and started self-publishing in 2011. I really haven't written anything new since, because I had a big backlog of material. For two or three years I was enthusiastic about the promotion part of things, but now I'm fed up. It doesn't seem to matter what I do -- very few people wants to read my books, so what's the point of fussing with everything?</div>
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You may say all this is the result of chemotherapy and that may be part of it. My arthritis has also gotten worse, and the chemo and enforced inactivity seems to have affected my muscle endurance, so I haven't yet gotten to where I can even take walks the way I used to enjoy doing. I've been striving for a couple of blocks a day, but that's about as much as I can manage. Of course, I don't drive any longer, so I can't go anywhere without transportation. If, for example, I wanted to arrange to visit my college library and maybe take some of my books to give to them for their collection, I would have to go in a cab or else hire an aide to drive me. And I can't lug armloads of books any more. I lugged plenty in my life as a librarian, I can tell you! So I have a lot of problems that keep me from doing promotional activities like book signings or attending conventions (I never travel). I keep marketing on social media, over and over to the same people. How do I find new people and get them interested? My books really deserve to be read!<br />
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<strong> Any suggestions?</strong></div>
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<strong>Would you like to see a tragic ending to the series?</strong></div>
Lorinda J Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16985567506994751475noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2233685335369677578.post-11580565495354094782015-05-06T12:59:00.001-07:002015-05-06T12:59:53.626-07:00The Life of Hercules: The Hero's Death<div style="background-color: #fefafb; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: center;">
Tenth
(and last) of a series. Here are the earlier posts:</div>
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<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-life-of-hercules-birth-and-childhood.html" style="color: #75177d; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #c929d5;">The Life of Hercules: Birth and
Childhood</span></a></div>
<div style="background-color: #fefafb; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-life-of-hercules-first-six-labors.html" style="color: #75177d; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #c929d5;">The Life of Hercules: The First Six
Labors</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-life-of-hercules-final-six-labors.html" style="color: #75177d; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #c929d5;">The Life of Hercules: The Final Six
Labors</span></a></div>
<div style="background-color: #fefafb; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-life-of-hercules-digression-into.html" style="color: #75177d; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #c929d5;">The Life of Hercules: Digression into the
Underworld</span></a></div>
<div style="background-color: #fefafb; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-life-of-hercules-another-digression.html" style="color: #75177d; text-decoration: none;">The
Life of Hercules: Another Digression (The Calydonian Boar)</a></div>
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<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-life-of-hercules-centaurs-and.html" style="color: #75177d; text-decoration: none;">The
Life of Hercules: The Centaurs and the Erymanthian Boar</a></div>
<div style="background-color: #fefafb; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-life-of-hercules-golden-fleece.html" style="color: #75177d; text-decoration: none;">The
Life of Hercules: The Golden Fleece (The Young Jason)</a></div>
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<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-life-of-hercules-argonauts.html"><span style="color: #c929d5;">The
Life of Hercules: The Argonauts</span></a></div>
<div style="background-color: #fefafb; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-life-of-hercules-early-adventures.html">The Early Adventures in the Quest for the Golden Fleece</a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nessus, Heracles, & Deianeira</span><br />
Black-figured hydria, 6th c. BC, Louvre<br />
<a href="http://www.theoi.com/Georgikos/KentaurosNessos.html">http://www.theoi.com/Georgikos/KentaurosNessos.html</a></td></tr>
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The following utilizes the text of Robert Graves' Greek Myths: </div>
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Herakles had many women and other wives, but his most important liaison was with Deianeira. Deianeira was considered <span style="line-height: 18.2px;">the daughter of Oeneus </span><span style="line-height: 18.2px;">and</span><span style="line-height: 18.2px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 18.2px;">the sister of Meleager, but she was really a daughter of Dionysus. She was courted by the River God Achelous, who often appeared as a bull or a bull-headed man, and the prospect of marrying him revolted her. Herakles was also in contention for her hand and he fought Achelous and won the battle, snapping off one of his bull's horns (I used this, in much adapted form. in The Storm-Wing, when Ki'shto'ba fought the lightning reptile and broke off his horn). Thus Herakles acquired the hand of Deianeira in marriage.</span></div>
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They had four sons and one daughter, including a son named Hyllus. The children that the mad Herakles killed, however, were from a different wife, Megara.</div>
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There is no denying that Herakles was never faithful to Deianeira. One day in crossing a river, the Centaur Nessus offered to carry Deianeira across on his back while Herakles swam. Instead, Nessus galloped off and tried to violate Deianeira. Herakles heard her screams and pursued, shooting an arrow through Nessus's breast.</div>
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For revenge, the dying Centaur told Deianeira that he would give her a charm to ensure Herakles's faithfulness -- that she should take blood from the wound, mix it with olive oil, and seal it up in a jar, then later on apply it to one of Herakles' shirts. This she did without telling anyone.</div>
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Later, when Herakles was preparing a thanksgiving sacrifice for a particular festival, he sent the courier Lichas to Deianeira for a fine shirt and cloak. Deianeira was being forced to live in the same household as one of her husband's mistresses, and so at this point she availed herself of Nessus's love charm, impregnating a piece of wool in the mixture and rubbing the shirt with it. After the clothing was dispatched to Herakles, she flung the piece of wool into the courtyard and to her horror watched as it ate into the pavement, causing red foam to boil up from it. Realizing that Nessus had deceived her, she dispatched another courier, but it was too late - Herakles had already donned the shirt. Herakles' arrow had infused Nessus's blood with the poisonous blood of the Hydra and this caused Herakles to burn with hideous fire. <span style="line-height: 18.2px;">As he ripped off the shirt, his flesh came with it, exposing the bone.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2px;"> U</span><span style="line-height: 18.2px;">nable to find relief, </span><span style="line-height: 18.2px;">Herakles</span><span style="line-height: 18.2px;"> r</span><span style="line-height: 18.2px;">aged across th</span><span style="line-height: 18.2px;">e countryside and killed the unfortunate courier Lichas, who was not at all at fault, by flinging him into the sea, where he became a rock of human shape, known as Lichas even to this day. Then Herakles sent for his son Hyllus and asked to be carried away to die in solitude. Meanwhile, Deianeira killed herself either by hanging herself or by the sword. [Here is a minor irritation - I know I read somewhere that another alternative death for Deianeira was by flinging herself off a cliff, but can I find that now? Doing a little checking, I discovered that in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Deianeira threw herself off a cliff, but I never watched those early episodes.]</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2px;"> Hyllus assured the vengeful Herakles that Deianeira was innocent, so Herakles forgave her and shared only with Hyllus Zeus's prophecy: "No man alive may ever kill Herakles; a dead enemy shall be his downfall." Herakles then lay down on his own pyre and ordered its kindling. Lightning bolts came from the sky and reduced the whole pile to ashes.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2px;"> Zeus then took Herakles' spiritual remains up to heaven (apotheosis), made him one of the Twelve Olympians, and persuaded Hera to adopt him (unlikely scenario!) by producing him from beneath her skirt. He was then given Hebe in marriage, and he became the porter of Heaven while his mortal phantom stalks Tartarus, still looking like the shaggy earthly hero we all know well.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2px;"> Those of you who have read the six volumes of the Ki'shto'ba series will see the quite ingenious connections that I was able to draw between Herakles and my own more peaceable and humane Champion. One plot problem lay with the sexual motivation, since termites feel no such thing as sexual jealousy. They do, however, experience the desire for revenge and the instincts of compassion and forgiveness. I won't spoil the final volumes of the series by giving any additional explanation.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2px;"> This concludes my series on the Life of Hercules. However, I may supplement it with some additional myths which apply to the sequel volume (yes, there has to be a sequel volume, to tie up loose ends), so stay tuned.</span></div>
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Lorinda J Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16985567506994751475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2233685335369677578.post-89130077560334347462015-04-12T10:08:00.001-07:002015-04-12T10:10:15.502-07:00Another Great Review by a Reader Who Is Making His Way through the Series!<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adam Walker recently reviewed The Valley of Thorns, v.3 of The Labors of Ki'shto'ba Huge-Head. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2015/02/new-review-of-valley-of-thorns-v3.html" style="text-align: justify;">New Review of The Valley of Thorns.</a><span style="text-align: justify;"> Now he has read his way through v.4, Beneath the Mountain of Heavy Fear, and put up another fine review on Goodreads. It's short but to the point! Here it is!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span>Once more we follow Ki'shto'ba Huge Head and his companions through their adventures, this time even into the Underworld! In this volume we meet two more of the Companions; both of which are delightfully quirky! Oh and Za'dut continues to get himself and everyone else into all manner of trouble through his too-clever-by-half schemes. I'm really looking forward to seeing what develops as young Is'a'pai'a begins *its* quest entertwined with that of the Huge Head. Lots of good laughs here! Another success of Ms. Taylor and her termites!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> So my only comment is, why aren't more of you reading your way through my absorbing epic series?!! You're missing out! Don't be scared -- the big, bad termites don't bite Earthers!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>Purchase my books at </b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/IrUJqt">Amazon</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Lorinda+J.+Taylor&x=15&y=22">Amazon UK</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>All other Amazon venues</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/TermiteWriter">Smashwords</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><a href="http://bit.ly/HZgeRr">Barnes & Noble</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/search?Query=Lorinda+J.+Taylor">Kobo</a></b></span></div>
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Lorinda J Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16985567506994751475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2233685335369677578.post-9493574075147399562015-02-20T08:47:00.001-08:002015-02-20T09:14:31.026-08:00New review of The Valley of Thorns (v.3, The Labors of Ki'shto'ba Huge-Head)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Current cover</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alternate cover, not used</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adam Walker, one of my best supporters, favored me with another great 5-star review, this time of The Valley of Thorns. Here it is!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This third installment in the Labors of Ki'shto'ba Huge Head series continues with the Herculean epic motif, but like the previous volume, which added in elements of the Beowulf, this volume adds elements of the Medieval French poem, the Song of Roland. Ms. Taylor, once again pulls off a wonderfully entertaining tale, blending elements of two Human stories which have endured for centuries while transposing and transmuting them into a form completely suited to her extraterrestrial termite heroes. Though much shorter than some of the other volumes in this series, this one manages to pack in all the elements I have loved in previous volumes--humorous asides, the snarky interplay between the narrator and his scribe, the machinations of the little worker Za'dut, and the interplay of the various friendships among the Companions--but this volume manages to add a few more elements--an epic list naming the warriors and their deeds before the great battle, betrayal, madness and vengeance, and regret and loss. Ms. Taylor managed to make me cry over a fictional termite, a termite for heaven's sake! I have enjoyed all the volumes of the Labors thus far, but I believe this is the best one yet!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">See all the Goodreads reviews for the book <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18754936-the-valley-of-thorns">here</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And of course you can buy all my books at <a href="http://amzn.to/1jRb7YV">Amazon</a>, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/KdNtR1">Amazon.co.uk </a>(and all other Amazon countries), </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">at <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/TermiteWriter">Smashwords</a>, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and at <a href="http://bit.ly/HZgeRr"><span style="color: black;">B</span><span style="color: #181818;">arnes & Noble</span></a><span style="color: #181818;">.</span></span></span></div>
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Lorinda J Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16985567506994751475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2233685335369677578.post-64961791095845669022015-01-22T09:26:00.003-08:002015-01-22T09:26:54.657-08:00The Life of Hercules: The Early Adventures in the the Quest for the Golden Fleece<div style="background-color: #fefafb; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
Ninth of a series. Here are the earlier posts:</div>
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<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-life-of-hercules-birth-and-childhood.html" style="color: #75177d; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #c929d5;">The Life of Hercules: Birth and Childhood</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-life-of-hercules-first-six-labors.html" style="color: #75177d; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #c929d5;">The Life of Hercules: The First Six Labors</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-life-of-hercules-final-six-labors.html" style="color: #75177d; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #c929d5;">The Life of Hercules: The Final Six Labors</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-life-of-hercules-digression-into.html" style="color: #75177d; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #c929d5;">The Life of Hercules: Digression into the Underworld</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-life-of-hercules-another-digression.html" style="color: #75177d; text-decoration: none;">The Life of Hercules: Another Digression (The Calydonian Boar)</a></div>
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<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-life-of-hercules-centaurs-and.html" style="color: #75177d; text-decoration: none;">The Life of Hercules: The Centaurs and the Erymanthian Boar</a></div>
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<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-life-of-hercules-golden-fleece.html" style="color: #75177d; text-decoration: none;">The Life of Hercules: The Golden Fleece (The Young Jason)</a></div>
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<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-life-of-hercules-argonauts.html">The Life of Hercules: The Argonauts</a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is a drawing nobody has ever seen before. <br />
Click on it so you can read the caption. Those who <br />
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Robert Graves writes (section 149 of his Greek Myths): "Heracles, after capturing the Erymanthian boar, appeared suddenly at Pagasae, and was invited by a unanimous vote to captain the <i>Argo</i>; but generously agreed to serve under Jason who, though a novice, had planned and proclaimed the expedition." Even so, in my retelling of the epic, Ki'shto'ba Huge-Head yields the captaincy of the Quest ship to Is'a'pai'a. </div>
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And the first adventure in the Quest occurred on the island of Lemnos, where a year earlier the men had quarreled with their wives and taken foreign concubines. In revenge, the Lemnian women murdered all the men, except the King, whom his daughter Hypsipyle (meaning High Gate) decided to spare, but only by setting him adrift in an oarless boat. When the <i>Argo </i>appeared, the women made a decision to welcome the men and take them to their beds with the purpose of breeding a new and stronger stock. They didn't tell the Argonauts the whole truth, saying only that they had been ill-treated by their husbands and so had exiled them. Hypsipyle claimed Jason for her own. Although Jason proclaimed that he would have to finish his quest first, the crew lingered, engendering many children. The Quest might have ended there, except for Heracles, who was guarding the ship. He finally strode angrily into the city and drove all the crew back to the Argo, after which the Quest resumed. As a footnote, the King survived his oarless journey and was cast up on the island of Sicinos. When the Lemnian women learned that Hypsipyle that spared him, they sold her into slavery, or she may have been abducted by pirates (now <i>there </i>is a tale in itself!)</div>
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So how can this be adapted to a sexless termite society? Well, if I tell you too much about that, it will ruin part of v.6 for you. Suffice it to say that the name of the Mother of the island fortress of Thai'no'no'gwai is Pri'rak'vit'ta'tzi, which does mean "High Gate Mother" And the society is composed entirely <span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">of female Alates. How can that happen, you say? You'll just have to read the book! It forms a really exciting couple of chapter!</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> After that, the Questers came to the realm of King Cyzicus, a good and noble ruler who became great friends with Jason. However, in a very sad event, as the Argo was sailing away from the King's realm, a storm blew them back, and, not knowing where they had landed, the Argonauts got into a fight with defenders, and Jason killed his friend Cyzicus. You will find this sorrowful and ominous event portrayed quite accurately in my version, even to the dedication of an anchor stone.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> It was at this point that something happened that caused Heracles to leave the Quest. Heracles had a companion named Hylas, whom he loved dearly. Here is what Graves has to say about their relationship: "Hylas had been Heracles' minion and darling ever since the death of his father, Theodamas." Of course, the implication was that they were lovers, an unremarkable relationship in ancient Greece. At any rate, Hylas had set out to fetch water from the pool of Pegae on the island of Mysia and never returned. Heracles was frantic, but all that could be found was Hylas' "water-pitcher lying abandoned by the pool side." It seemed that "Dryope and her sister nymphs of Pegae had fallen in love with Hylas, and enticed them to come and live with them in an underwater grotto." Heracles didn't reappear the next morning and finally the ship left without him.</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> Heracles never found Hylas and ultimately resumed his own life, "after threatening to lay Mysia waste unless the inhabitants continued their search for Hylas, dead or alive." And a touching after-note: "For Heracles' sake, the Mysians still sacrifice once a year to Hylas ...; their priest thrice calls his name aloud, and the devotees pretend to search for him in the woods."</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> Here is where I did some conflating with later events, and if I tell you too much about that, it will seriously damage the impact the story, so ... I will proceed to the next adventure ...</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> The Argonauts landed next on an island ruled by the "arrogant King Amycus, a son of Poseidon." The King believed himself to be a great boxer (he used gloves studded with brazen spikes) and he was always challenging visitors to boxing matches. If they declined, he would fling them over a cliff into the sea. Polydeuces (one of the Dioscuri) was also an award-winning boxer and after a prolonged bout was able to defeat and kill Amycus in spite of the fact that the King used less than honorable tactics.</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> So now you know why it is Ti'a'toig'a who fights the battle on the Cliff of Fear instead of Ki'shto'ba. And since termites don't box, I made it a wrestling match.</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> The Argonauts next encounter Phineus, a Seer who was blinded by the gods for prophesying too accurately. He was also plagued by Harpies, who kept flying over his table, snatching the food and fouling it with their excrement. Phineus refused to prophesy for Jason unless the Argonauts got rid of the Harpies for him. After the Harpies were driven away, Phineus proceeded to give the Argonauts advice on how to navigate the remainder of the journey to Colchis, warning them of the Symplegades, the moving rocks in front of the entrance to the Bosporus </span><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">that clash together and crush ships. Jason defeated them by sending out a dove (or a heron) and following it through the maze.</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> No mention is made at this point of the Cadmus's dragon's teeth that grow into Warriors when planted, but I introduced it here. The story of Phineus and the Harpies grew into one of the most complex and moving sequences of my version of the myths. And the Argonauts had many later adventures that I have omitted or that will be utilized in the sequel volume (if I ever get it written!) I myself am not completely sure at this point how I'm going to adapt some of them.</span></div>
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Lorinda J Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16985567506994751475noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2233685335369677578.post-36721622488048218372014-12-30T13:17:00.000-08:002014-12-30T13:17:29.333-08:00Review of The Revenge of the Dead Enemy, by Marva Dasef<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I haven't been blogging lately because of my recent surgery -- no enthusiam left for anything. However, Marva Dasef, who has become one of my most devoted fans, posted a review on Dec. 19 (one day after the surgery) of the final Ki'shto'ba volume. It's a great review (5 star) and I'm sorry I am only just getting around to sharing it here. See the original on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Labors-Kishtoba-Huge-Head-Revenge-Enemy-ebook/dp/B00P1PAX3S/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1419973184&sr=1-3&keywords=lorinda+j.+taylor">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23484693-the-revenge-of-the-dead-enemy">Goodreads</a>, or <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/489070">Smashwords</a>. (And Marva is a really good writer herself. See her books, including many in audio format, at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_11?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=marva+dasef&sprefix=Marva+Dasef%2Cstripbooks%2C294">Amazon</a>.)</div>
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<strong>I'm a Termite Lover for Life</strong></div>
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So you think you can't empathize with a giant termite? We've
had many insectoid and arachnid heroes in literature. Consider "Charlotte's
Web." If you didn't get teary-eyed when Charlotte died, then you must have a
heart of stone. Other stories empathetic toward multi-legged creatures: Ant
Bully, It's a Bug's Life, Bee Story. I'm sure there are others. I don't usually
seek out books about bugs, but I could come up with these examples in a few
seconds.<br /><br />So, what about the entire epic journey "The Labors of
Ki'sh'toba: Volumes 1-6?" I have previously reviewed 1-5, not to mention the
2-volume "Termite Queen" saga. I liked them...a lot. I continually complained
about the difficult names, places, and concepts with the conlang (constructed
language) of the Termite world. Too many apostrophes and a bunch of other
punctuation I have no clue how to pronounce.<br /><br />I will complain no more. I
still can't pronounce 90% of the termite language, but I can visually recognize
the names of the main characters. All have become familiar and lovable in their
own ways. Di'fa'kro'mi, the Remembrancer (story teller) is quite an adept author
considering he had to invent a written language in which to tell the tales. I
know, the real Remembrancer is Lorinda Taylor, but she is such a wonderful
writer, I was immersed in the stories as if they were really told by
Di'fa'kro'mi.<br /><br />As I did when first reading "Charlotte's Web," I wept over
the death of some of my favorites throughout the entire six volumes. I cried for
termites? Yes, I did, and I'm not ashamed.<br /><br />The entire tale of Ki'shto'ba
and his labors (modeled on the Greek Hercules myth) is hard to get into, but an
epic worthy of the difficulty of the journey.<br /><br />I completely and thoroughly
recommend the entire six volumes. But you might want to start with the Termite
Queen books to allow yourself to ease into the idea of termite heroes. </div>
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<strong>Thanks, Marva! I appreciate it so much!</strong> </div>
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Lorinda J Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16985567506994751475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2233685335369677578.post-53666060657656712222014-12-03T09:35:00.001-08:002014-12-03T09:35:03.674-08:00Another New Review! The Storm-Wing, This Time!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO7cWn6zIPzyP70xgmSjcTkyITMa1u2_VYjxA6k7Ih0l5J4atFOlaD_tY5USjZWuMnOidaCzhwt1m_TTYkWTBqGB1-bDMcfFuymZjNcruk0CCOE0j_jwYOCSXLgKpkuLXLu6SpJ9jLWXI/s1600/Storm-Wing,+Front+Cover,+Final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO7cWn6zIPzyP70xgmSjcTkyITMa1u2_VYjxA6k7Ih0l5J4atFOlaD_tY5USjZWuMnOidaCzhwt1m_TTYkWTBqGB1-bDMcfFuymZjNcruk0CCOE0j_jwYOCSXLgKpkuLXLu6SpJ9jLWXI/s1600/Storm-Wing,+Front+Cover,+Final.jpg" height="320" width="205" /></a>Adam Walker (my good conlanging buddy) has posted a review of The Storm-Wing over on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/995993756?book_show_action=false&page=1">Goodreads</a>. He liked it a lot! Thank you, Adam! Read the text below.</div>
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[Also, all my books are FREE right now with Smashwords coupons. See my blog <a href="http://termitewriter.blogspot.com/">Ruminations of a Remembrancer</a> for the codes. Hurry -- limited time offer!]</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 14px/19.31px Helvetica, Arial, "lucida grande", tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the second volume in Ms. Taylor's epic (in every sense of the word!) retelling of the Hercules myths. Perhaps retelling is not quite the right word here. Perhaps resetting would be better. What Ms. Taylor has done, and done very well with great cleverness and whimsy, is to take the epic mythos surrounding Hercules, the Twelve Labors and a number of the other less well-know stories surrounding this most popular of Greek heroes, and recast them in another world with extraterrestrials in all the starring roles. <br /> Her Shshi are giant, intelligent (and funny!) termite people. So right off you know there will be much adapting of the stories to fit with a completely alien biology. For instance, the warrior caste of the Shshi are, like the warriors of Earthly termites, non-sexed beings, several of Hercules more sexually charged exploits are not appropriate to the biology and culture of the Shshi. Ms. Taylor also takes the liberty of working in retellings of other epic tales of daring-do. This volume includes a very clever retelling of the Beowulf story, which fits perfectly with the surrounding Herculean material. <br /> If you like well-thought-out extraterrestrial, complete with cool cultures and languages, this book has it. If you enjoy the epic tales of yore, this book has it. If you enjoy humor mixed with your epic battles and fierce single combat, this book has it. <br /> There are so many reasons to pick this book up, and none to put it down!</span></span></span></span></div>
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Lorinda J Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16985567506994751475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2233685335369677578.post-82482201241393270502014-11-28T09:05:00.001-08:002014-11-28T09:07:23.830-08:00New Review of The Wood Where the Two Moons Shine!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyAkh9dVoDuSzIAM1S2L3iAxCSCqjydVFrLumdO2re8iScBC6S9hieMb6UuL_tppEaVBfRfYM9jkNiN92KOJl7YLBXPJrtDWiiwu04Qjspa4-fmCdxJFI1mfgXc23n2f7caEi_VRyhTy4/s1600/Front+cover,+Wood+Where.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyAkh9dVoDuSzIAM1S2L3iAxCSCqjydVFrLumdO2re8iScBC6S9hieMb6UuL_tppEaVBfRfYM9jkNiN92KOJl7YLBXPJrtDWiiwu04Qjspa4-fmCdxJFI1mfgXc23n2f7caEi_VRyhTy4/s1600/Front+cover,+Wood+Where.jpg" height="320" width="205" /></a></div>
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<span class="gry valignMiddle"><strong></strong></span> </div>
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<span class="gry valignMiddle"><strong>Here is Marva Dasef's review of v.5 of the series </strong></span></div>
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<span class="gry valignMiddle"><strong>The Labors of Ki'shto'ba Huge-Head</strong></span></div>
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<span class="gry valignMiddle"><strong></strong></span> </div>
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<span class="gry valignMiddle"><strong>See Marva's publications (YA and MG books,</strong></span><br />
<span class="gry valignMiddle"><strong> as well as adult, </strong></span><span class="gry valignMiddle"><strong>and a lot of audio books) </strong></span><br />
<span class="gry valignMiddle"><strong>at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Marva-Dasef/e/B002BM4DM6/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1417193669&sr=1-2-ent">Amazon</a></strong></span></div>
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<span class="gry valignMiddle"> In addition to looking up the myths yourself, you can read the posts in this blog in the series "The Life of Hercules," where I talk a good deal about how I adapted the stories. I'd also welcome comments on how you feel about the conlangs. Of course, you'd have to read some of my books first! </span></div>
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<span class="gry valignMiddle"><strong>An Epic Worthy of the Mythology</strong></span></div>
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Okay, if you haven't started with Volume 1 and worked
your way through to this 5th volume, you'll have no idea what it's all about.
Stop reading the review right now. Go to Amazon or Smashwords and start at the
previous two-volume book, "The Termite Queen, Vol. 1" or at least at "The Labors
of Ki'shto'ba Huge-Head, Vol. 1" which picks up events after the first
book.<br />
While an excellent addition to the epic tale of heroic alien
termites, I wanted a little more to highlight Ki'shto'ba's quest's end. As the
first volume of the story of Is’a’pai’a's search for the golden (fleece) fungus,
it's a smooth transition into the young warrior's quest.<br />
Yes, this is an
imagining of Jason and the Argonauts. Most of the characters in the Greek myth
are present and accounted for. But this doesn't need to be a deed for deed,
character for character retelling. Some aspects of the Jason myth are
impossible. For example, Medea as Jason's wife just won't fit into the story of
neuter termite warriors. I suspect a Mother (queen) termite will stand in for
Medea at some point.<br />
Am I complaining that the epic adventures of
Hercules (Ki'shto'ba) and Jason (Is'a'pai'a) are utilized as the basis for the
termites' tellings? Not at all. I went to my Dictionary of Mythology to remind
myself of the human equivalents to the termite heroes and deeds.<br />
My only
problem throughout the series is the con-lang (constructed language) Ms. Taylor
has created. It's an impressive feat. On the other hand, it's reading a story
with all the names and lots of other words are written in Urdu or Finnish. Hard
to remember who is who and what is what. I got used to the main characters'
names, but new characters and words introduced along the way didn't stick quite
as well. This makes the book difficult to read without breaking immersion. The
imaginary "translator" of the termite language text, could easily have said
"Since the names are difficult, I will substitute more familiar (or shorter)
terms to stand in. Please see the Appendix (yes, there is one) as needed." Thus,
Ki'shto'ba would be called Kip or Kish, Is'a'pai'a could be Ike or Isa. I would
definitely be easier to read.<br />
The difficulty of maintaining immersion
because of the con-lang dropped a star off the rating [to 4 star]. In all other ways, I
highly recommend both series. I look forward to reading Isa's continued quest
for the golden fungus in volume 6.</div>
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<strong>(Don't forget to check out my new book trailer at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovsjTRM_mtY&feature=youtu.be">YouTube</a>)</strong></div>
</span><br />Lorinda J Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16985567506994751475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2233685335369677578.post-12470612032531299612014-11-10T08:48:00.001-08:002014-11-10T08:48:17.586-08:00The Life of Hercules: The Argonauts<div style="text-align: center;">
Eighth of a series. Here are the earlier posts:</div>
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<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-life-of-hercules-birth-and-childhood.html"><span style="color: #c929d5;">The Life of Hercules: Birth and Childhood</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-life-of-hercules-first-six-labors.html"><span style="color: #c929d5;">The Life of Hercules: The First Six Labors</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-life-of-hercules-final-six-labors.html"><span style="color: #c929d5;">The Life of Hercules: The Final Six Labors</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-life-of-hercules-digression-into.html"><span style="color: #c929d5;">The Life of Hercules: Digression into the Underworld</span></a> </div>
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<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-life-of-hercules-another-digression.html">The Life of Hercules: Another Digression (The Calydonian Boar)</a></div>
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<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-life-of-hercules-centaurs-and.html">The Life of Hercules: The Centaurs and the Erymanthian Boar</a></div>
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<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-life-of-hercules-golden-fleece.html">The Life of Hercules: The Golden Fleece (The Young Jason)</a><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFnWQaxJiojUeukQCJ5N5QdDU7ggUi4L-q2JgMc53H9DczCegS7pohfp1pIQK9C6uBf-YgycwjiokmT0IkshxDe0xERIV4cNdYdrtMY3DFPFb-kpAmDjIzC83AueqSTCRhhev2O7Xxys/s1600/Mor'gwai%2Bsails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFnWQaxJiojUeukQCJ5N5QdDU7ggUi4L-q2JgMc53H9DczCegS7pohfp1pIQK9C6uBf-YgycwjiokmT0IkshxDe0xERIV4cNdYdrtMY3DFPFb-kpAmDjIzC83AueqSTCRhhev2O7Xxys/s1600/Mor'gwai%2Bsails.jpg" height="320" width="235" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is an illustration I made showing</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Mor'gwai (the Argo) sailing away from</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">the fortress of Vok'seit'chet. I considered</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">adapting this for the cover of v.6, </span><span style="font-size: small;">but I settled </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">on the Point of the Monster instead.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Click for larger view)</span></td></tr>
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After Jason agreed to sail away from Iolcus on a quest to retrieve the Golden Fleece, he needed a ship and a crew. The ship came to be called the <em>Argo</em> after the shipwright who built it, and the crew of heroes who sailed in it were called the Argonauts.</div>
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Sources usually agree that there were about 50 Argonauts. Obviously, I couldn't utilize all of these characters, so I picked out several that I felt were essential to my version of the story. Of course Heracles had to be included, since Ki'shto'ba is a stand-in for Heracles. However, Heracles really played a rather small role in the Quest for the Golden Fleece, leaving the Quest early for reasons I won't go into here. This aspect plays a significant role in my interpretation, but it would be a spoiler to elaborate too much on it.</div>
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So I went through Robert Graves' list of Argonauts and picked out some that would serve a function in my plotline.</div>
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<strong>Atalanta</strong>: I've dealt with her before (in the post about the Calydonian boar). Thel'tav'a, the female At'ein'zei Intercaste Warrior, fills this role. Meleager was also supposed to be an Argonaut, but in my tale my termite version of the character is already dead.</div>
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<strong>Amphiaraus</strong>, the Argive Seer: I had always intended the 11th Companion to be a Seer, so I sifted through the list of Argonauts to find one, and Amphiaraus stuck out immediately. If you look him up in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphiaraus">Wikipedia,</a> he has a considerable side story of his own but isn't prominent in the Golden Fleece quest. However, I settled on him for one special reason: his name means "Twice Cursed." (It might mean, according to Wikipedia, "Twice Ares-like," but I employed the twice-cursed connotation.) I came up with the idea of a Seer who has seen everything that is to come but can't recall what he has seen until it has happened. He is cursed to know all and to know nothing, and to be unable to change the future. How could a person be more doubly cursed that that? I think that was a brilliant idea, but for the life of me I can't recall how I came up with it. I named him Da'sask'ni'a, which also means "Twice Cursed."</div>
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<strong>Argus</strong> the Thespian, builder of the <em>Argo</em>: Is'a'pai'a needed a ship just as Jason did, and so I made the 12th Companion to be the Bright-and-Dark Boatbuilder, Mo'wiv. The name Argus means "bright," so this was close enough. Mo'wiv is a Builder-Worker, a famous shipwright in the lands of the Water People. I also made him a skilled ship's Captain, because obviously none of the Companions of Ki'shto'ba and Is'a'pai'a knows anything about sailing. "According to other legends [the Argo] contained in her prow a magical piece of timber from the sacred forest of Dodona, which could speak and render prophecies." (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argo">Wikipedia</a>) From this, and from the knowledge that the early Greeks often painted eyes on their prow, I got the idea for the Moon-Eyes of the Mother. And all ships need a figurehead, so the running reptile Rin'dog'zei fit perfectly.</div>
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<strong>Castor</strong>, the Spartan wrestler, and his twin, <strong>Polydeuces</strong>, the Spartan boxer, known as the Dioscuri, or Sons of Zeus. In case nobody has guessed it to this point, the twins known as the Shin'ki'no'hna, or Offspring of the King, reflect this pair. Castor means "beaver," which is impossible to translate into Shshi, so I called that one Ti'a'gwol'a, which means "sweet chewer." Polydeuces means "much sweeter wine," so I made him Ti'a'toig'a, which means "sweet swallower." Termites don't box, so I substituted the skill of jaw-fencing (the Water People have those long, narrow pointed jaws, as you've seen in the pictures of Is'a'pai'a). <br />
And -- oh, dear! -- I just discovered an error In the book people are always mixing up the twins because they really are identical. Now it appears even I mixed them up. I made Ti'a'toig'a (Polydeuces) the wrestler, when it should have been Ti'a'gwol'a (Castor). Oh, well, if I'm that confused, the readers aren't going to know the difference. I don't believe I ever wrote about the meaning of the names.<br />
Sigh. Moving on ... <br />
<strong>Hylas</strong>, squire to Heracles: This character is, of course, Twa'sei. Enough said on that.</div>
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<strong>Orpheus:</strong> Bu'gan'zei the 9th Companion is Orpheus, but you all knew that.<br />
<strong>Tiphys</strong>, the Helmsman: The name means "from the pool" and the minor character Ao'gwai, helmsman for the Quest ship, reflects that; its name means "pool."<br />
And there you have the <strong>Argonauts</strong> -- the <strong><em>mor'gwai'zei</em></strong>| -- denizens of the ship <strong>Mor'gwai</strong>, which means "Bright Water." This reflects the name of its shipwright, Mo'wiv, even as the Argo reflects the name Argus.<br />
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One other note: a second pair of twins sailed on the Argo -- Idas and Lynceus. Expect to see this pair turn up in the sequel, assuming I ever get it written!<br />
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And a further afternote:<br />
Chris Graham (aka The Story Reading Ape) has reviewed v.6 The Revenge of the Dead Enemy as follows (thanks, Chris! You're my true-blue fan!)<br />
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Of all the books in this series, this is the one I dreaded
reading.<br /> Why?<br /> There are a lot of prophecies fulfilled, resulting in the
loss of great companions and it is the last book of the
series.<br /> However!<br /> The final few chapters not only gripped me with sadness,
they helped me reconcile with the losses (Ki'shto'ba's final moments were an
astounding fulfilment of a prophecy AND achieved the 12th and final Wonder in a
way that is unparalleled by any Shi'Shi) AND gave me hope that another
remarkable series may be penned by the author....<br /> I certainly hope so...
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Lorinda J Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16985567506994751475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2233685335369677578.post-25422452501321013912014-11-01T13:36:00.001-07:002014-11-01T13:36:50.391-07:00A Milestone Is Reached! The Final Volume of the Ki'shto'ba Series Has Been Published! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHfCuSZUYVTc_RMZjSWY-EguA8luikVOyd2aBo3Hf-_qIFdvSQyVu5A_JV4VkkRdjfjj6PgDIrGMcC_qrmoV8pUmsdEQVd9XHUa4pIRPh1Gk9QCIUoyJLfdJOsEvHicRGu8MoBXrmBCY/s1600/Revenge,+Cover+Art+(back)%2B(final).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHfCuSZUYVTc_RMZjSWY-EguA8luikVOyd2aBo3Hf-_qIFdvSQyVu5A_JV4VkkRdjfjj6PgDIrGMcC_qrmoV8pUmsdEQVd9XHUa4pIRPh1Gk9QCIUoyJLfdJOsEvHicRGu8MoBXrmBCY/s1600/Revenge,+Cover+Art+(back)+(final).jpg" height="320" width="203" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Back cover of <em>The Revenge of the Dead Enemy</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1nWtuxG">Amazon</a></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">, </span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Labors-Kishtoba-Huge-Head-Revenge-Enemy-ebook/dp/B00P1PAX3S/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1414862344&sr=1-7&keywords=lorinda+j+taylor"><span style="font-size: small;">Amazon UK</span></a></span><span style="font-size: small;">, and all other countries</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/489070">Smashwords</a></span><br />
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I began to write the series The Labors of Ki'shto'ba Huge-Head at the beginning of 2001 (in fact I labeled it as starting on Christmas Day, 2000) and I completed the revision of the first draft of the final volume on 7/29/03.</div>
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Now on 10/27/14, the entire series has finally been published!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kidsdiscover.com/spotlight/sound-and-vibration/">http://www.kidsdiscover.com/spotlight/sound-and-vibration/</a></td></tr>
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<strong>Do I hear a round of applause?</strong></div>
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I've taken Ki'shto'ba and its Twelve Companions on the promised Quest to reach the sea, moving from the original Three Companions (Di'fa'kro'mi, Wei'tu, and Twa'sei) to the last Two, Mo'wiv the Shipwright and Da'sask'ni'a the Doubly Cursed Seer (both introduced in v.5). Along the way we met the 4th Companion, Ki'shto'ba's Twin, A'zhu'lo (later surnamed Beloved of Champions under tragic circumstances). We acquired the 5th Companion, Za'dut the Tricky Lizard (also more nobly surnamed Fortress Breaker), who provided an endless stream of audacious, useful, and entertaining pranks and inventions. We added a Healer, Ra'fa'kat'wei, who had a quest of her own -- to find an antidote to the snail-poison that killed a great Champion of her people. We discovered a young Warrior of the Water People, Is'a'pai'a, an exile who knew nothing of its heritage, and that Warrior's helper Krai'zei, one of the Yo'sho'zei, a people with the reputation for mysterious powers. Finally, we met the 9th Companion, Bu'gan'zei, a word-crafter who has invented a new way of speaking that can charm the very leaves and stones -- who is destined to guide Ki'shto'ba into the World Below. And then there is the 10th, Thel'tav'a the Intercaste, a female winged and eyed Warrior whose name means Loyal to the Good and who will give her fidelity only to one who can best her in battle. </div>
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When the Quest finally reaches the sea, the emphasis shifts to Is'a'pai'a's own quest -- the Quest for the Golden Fungus. Ki'shto'ba begins to play a support role until events unfold that fulfill the final prophecies that have hedged the Quest about from the very beginning. </div>
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And this means that the final volume leaves much unresolved. It means that I need to write a seventh volume. In 2003, after working intensively on this series for two and a half years, I was a little burned out on it and I decided to write something else for a while. I started The Man Who Found Birds among the Stars, and that was a disaster -- not that the book was without value but it swallowed me up and became endless. I never got back to that seventh volume.</div>
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Now I've got to write it. It won't be called Volume Seven -- it will be called</div>
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<strong>The Labors of Ki'shto'ba Huge-Head: The Sequel</strong></div>
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<strong>The Buried Ship at the End of the World</strong></div>
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(unless I change my mind on the volume title) </div>
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I have a lot of notes, but I have to do some more research on the mythology that I'll be interpreting and I have to carefully work out the timeline. I also need to make a chapter outline, because I want to cover certain events in a structured way that will keep the book from growing to an unmanageable length (my worst failing). I guess I really am a planner and not a pantser, because improvisation is deadly for me. That is, I can improvise in the actual writing process, but not in figuring out what I want to put in the plot. </div>
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This won't be a quick undertaking, because when I get inspired, I can write fast, but then I like to take a lot of time to "cook" the book -- let it simmer, rest, and then be stirred and seasoned over and over. And I'll also have to do a cover drawing from scratch -- no older drawings here that I can pull out of my hat. And I'll have to make the maps, also.</div>
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I may work on some other material as well, like trying to decide what to do with The Man Who Found Birds among the Stars, and also that extract called Father and Demons that I had planned to publish earlier only to change my mind. So I think I have more than enough creative projects to move to the front burner.</div>
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In the meantime, I'd love to have more readers for what I've already published. I'm going to try to do more promotion. I think there are a lot of people out there who would be surprised at what a great read my books are, particularly the Ki'shto'ba series, which only gets more intense and more moving as it goes along (be sure you have some hankies handy when you read <em>The Revenge of the Dead Enemy</em>). </div>
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So stay tuned for further developments, and let me hear from you as you enjoy my creations! You can find me on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/Termitewriter">Facebook</a>, on Twitter @TermiteWriter, and also on my Google+ community, <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/?tab=wX#communities/105785849718911811069">Books by TermiteWriter</a>. Or leave your comments on this blog or on my other blog <a href="http://termitewriter.blogspot.com/">Ruminations of a Remembrancer.</a> </div>
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<strong>P.S. Watch for a Facebook event soon!</strong></div>
Lorinda J Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16985567506994751475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2233685335369677578.post-52974395883752827242014-10-02T07:47:00.000-07:002014-10-02T07:47:07.676-07:00Opinions Needed: Which Cover Works Best?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8LtXLiQZVFxgTlsLv6Y86h4hRaSylgQDiBNMX1oZkj1lb8O5bHcGxOd1lwlz1SAYm5t2pf6oYEuols6V2Q5ettJVx5RSLP_wmTGfIVoDbfLUu8erbsXIeorzVgrMMRAMgNPSLvPobYUk/s1600/Cover,+Revenge,+no.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8LtXLiQZVFxgTlsLv6Y86h4hRaSylgQDiBNMX1oZkj1lb8O5bHcGxOd1lwlz1SAYm5t2pf6oYEuols6V2Q5ettJVx5RSLP_wmTGfIVoDbfLUu8erbsXIeorzVgrMMRAMgNPSLvPobYUk/s1600/Cover,+Revenge,+no.1.jpg" height="320" width="206" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Version No. 1</td></tr>
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I composed this picture a long time ago and I decided it made a great cover for v.6 of the Ki'shto'ba series. Now you're going to say, the four versions are all the same, but if you look closely, they are not. (It becomes one of those "Find six differences in these pictures" puzzle!) My main problem is getting the sea to look halfway decent. For <em>The Wood Where the Two Moon Shines</em>, I needed a twilight sea with a lot of foam and golden highlights, since the sun was setting. A plain darkish blue worked fine for the sea. Here it's broad daylight and the sea needs texture. It's really tough to get that with the Word drawing program . <br />
I've left the waves in the lower part on all the versions, but the last three versions have a darker blue sea, so I changed the color of the waves to grayish-white. Kind of like making a negative instead of a positive.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkTJ73E7Nsfoj7XYora03wSN1aK-GNJKT_X4wVJ1VtWcJP852977F9jIFES1xSkKqsvDjDLjuBJojn5V9-J7d3jtE1DbKRn-i3tc3cDxY-2wKEBJu9VqniXVg8-M-GALAE2ucUV3jgqk/s1600/Cover,+Revenge,+no.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkTJ73E7Nsfoj7XYora03wSN1aK-GNJKT_X4wVJ1VtWcJP852977F9jIFES1xSkKqsvDjDLjuBJojn5V9-J7d3jtE1DbKRn-i3tc3cDxY-2wKEBJu9VqniXVg8-M-GALAE2ucUV3jgqk/s1600/Cover,+Revenge,+no.2.jpg" height="320" width="204" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Version No. 2</td></tr>
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Then I used broadly dashed lines in the upper part to try to make the sea look less static. You can see I made them either a different shade of blue or they are grayish white. In the 3rd and 4th versions, I removed them entirely. Now I can't make up my mind whether it looks better with or without those squiggles. I really want some opinions and if you're not comfortable commenting on a Blogger blog, leave a message for me on Twitter @TermiteWriter or post on my Facebook timeline or page or on Google+.<br />
One other thing that differs: I used a different typeface on Version No. 4. I've pretty much settled on that one, for the cover and the title page and headers, etc.<br />
<strong>It works best if you click on the pictures and get a bigger version where the detail is easier to see.</strong><br />
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The scene depicts the Point of the Monster (Dan'ki'no'dai). Remember the story of Perseus and Andromeda? Here is what is said about it in the book:<br />
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As we sailed into the deep bay where Li’hwai’chet was located, we had to pass the impressive headland that thrust out along its west side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Dan’ki’no’dai,” said Mo’wiv.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Can you Moon-Wings see the monster upon it?"<br />
We craned our necks and could indeed make out the shape of an enormous head at the top of the point and twisted rocks that descended in great coils.<br />
Mo’wiv was continuing, “It is said that the ancient hero Wak’a’lo’a possessed the head of a magical She-Monster that it had killed in lands beyond the north wind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The palps on this head would turn anything they touched to stone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wak’a’lo’a used it to destroy the fierce sea-worm whose petrified remains you see here and thus saved a female nymph from being carried off by Guoi’me’uh’hma’no’tze … [i.e., the Sea King]”<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfSq_g8E8Wg3WIgNHgNInxU5FhQt2zCgDABLOVMjj50QdvDnTd5wL7YMccqq7jB_yqU1Im57igugsjLBU8Clii6C_RFVqXKnnw2nCmJ7AfllWPVBp2IdJRXdUPudPgTQwy6ziFsjr9Eg/s1600/Cover,+Revenge,+no.3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfSq_g8E8Wg3WIgNHgNInxU5FhQt2zCgDABLOVMjj50QdvDnTd5wL7YMccqq7jB_yqU1Im57igugsjLBU8Clii6C_RFVqXKnnw2nCmJ7AfllWPVBp2IdJRXdUPudPgTQwy6ziFsjr9Eg/s1600/Cover,+Revenge,+no.3.jpg" height="320" unselectable="on" width="206" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Version No. 3</td></tr>
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At
that point I exclaimed, “Oh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Northern Nasutes told that tale, only they substituted Ju’mu for
Wak’a’lo’a.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So this is the place where
that myth originated!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Ra’fa’kat’wei
and I gawked with even greater curiosity.<br />
...<br />
And we
sailed on, through the shadow of the Point of the Monster, which loomed above
us like a warning not to overstep ourselves – a reminder that, even though one
of us had earned the surname “Monster-Slayer,” we did not live in the same age
as ancient heroes. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WzS4uToN8OJGOowfKqLuXWvfLrmuI2qZ3npSpkieXm-Uar-e7hFdla3dsxm3iq_3b87HX7x_l6jsLNe93QoMVoiKaxtJ4QN6Y3id2uPlSY71PZ5MzKrVtlH4JHZTpJHoJ8c1GO2l4pg/s1600/Cover,+Revenge,+no.4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WzS4uToN8OJGOowfKqLuXWvfLrmuI2qZ3npSpkieXm-Uar-e7hFdla3dsxm3iq_3b87HX7x_l6jsLNe93QoMVoiKaxtJ4QN6Y3id2uPlSY71PZ5MzKrVtlH4JHZTpJHoJ8c1GO2l4pg/s1600/Cover,+Revenge,+no.4.jpg" height="320" width="206" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Version No. 4</td></tr>
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<img height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfSq_g8E8Wg3WIgNHgNInxU5FhQt2zCgDABLOVMjj50QdvDnTd5wL7YMccqq7jB_yqU1Im57igugsjLBU8Clii6C_RFVqXKnnw2nCmJ7AfllWPVBp2IdJRXdUPudPgTQwy6ziFsjr9Eg/s1600/Cover,+Revenge,+no.3.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 178px; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 846px;" width="61" />
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-SVzOE8pCFlM%2FVBSqvTzGqDI%2FAAAAAAAABnw%2FM_5FCdQa_-o%2Fs1600%2FCover%252C%252BRevenge%252C%252Bno.3.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfSq_g8E8Wg3WIgNHgNInxU5FhQt2zCgDABLOVMjj50QdvDnTd5wL7YMccqq7jB_yqU1Im57igugsjLBU8Clii6C_RFVqXKnnw2nCmJ7AfllWPVBp2IdJRXdUPudPgTQwy6ziFsjr9Eg/s1600/Cover,+Revenge,+no.3.jpg" -->Lorinda J Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16985567506994751475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2233685335369677578.post-13480147372859000492014-09-22T13:19:00.001-07:002014-09-22T13:19:46.548-07:00Imbas Forosnai: Poetic Inspiration of the Irish Filidh, by Ali Isaac<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<strong>I have recently discovered Ali Isaac, who blogs about Irish mythology and writes stories utilizing it. She has done an impressive amount of research on this subject, and since I'm not particularly well versed in Irish myth, I thought one of her posts would enhance the topic of my blog, namely, the adaptation of myth in fiction. </strong></div>
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<strong> Oh, by the way, Ali is writing a series called the Tir na Nog trilogy. Check them out when you go over to her blog to read the rest of this post. I haven't read them, but I'm about to put them on my To-Read list on Goodreads, because they definitely seem like my kind of book! FYI, "Tir na Nog" means "Land of the Young" and is a name for the Irish Otherword. </strong></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Salmon of Knowledge</span></td></tr>
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Something which intrigued me during my research for my latest book, Conor Kelly and The Fenian King, was Fionn mac Cumhall’s ability to call forth his magical powers and divine the future by sucking or biting on his thumb.</div>
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The story goes that, as a boy, whilst serving an apprenticeship with the Druid Finegas, he catches the Salmon of Knowledge and cooks it for his master. As he turns the fish in the pan, he scalds his thumb. Instinctively, he places his thumb in his mouth to cool the burn, thus ingesting the tiny scrap of fish skin stuck there, and acquiring the salmon’s knowledge. Afterwards, he has only to touch his thumb to his mouth to foretell the future, and seek the answers to his questions.</div>
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According to the <em>Senshas Mor (</em>an ancient book of Brehon law<em>), </em>Fionn uses this power twice in the story ‘Fionn and the Man in the Tree’. When the Sidhe steal the Fianna’s food three times in a row as the food is cooking, Fionn is enraged and chases the thief back to his Sidhe-mound. A woman slams the door behind the thief, trapping Fionn’s thumb. He pops the injured digit in his mouth, and receives some kind of divine knowledge which he recites in a poem. Later in the same story, he discovers the identity of an escaped servant by putting his thumb in his mouth and chanting an incantation.</div>
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This act of looking into the future and chanting or reciting prophecy in the form of poetry is called <strong><em>Imbas Forosnai </em></strong>(<em>imbas </em>meaning ‘inspiration’, in particular the sacred poetic inspiration of the ancient <em>Filidh, </em>and <em>forosnai </em>meaning ‘illuminating’ or ‘that which illuminates’). It involves the use of sensory deprivation in order to pass into a trance-like state.</div>
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<strong>Read more of this post <a href="http://aliisaacstoryteller.com/2014/09/22/imbas-forosnai-poetic-inspiration-of-the-irish-filidh/">HERE</a>.</strong></div>
Lorinda J Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16985567506994751475noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2233685335369677578.post-51946595367303616112014-09-15T09:57:00.000-07:002014-09-15T09:57:21.428-07:00The Life of Hercules: The Golden Fleece (The Young Jason) <div style="text-align: center;">
Seventh of a series. Here are the earlier posts:</div>
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<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-life-of-hercules-birth-and-childhood.html"><span style="color: #c929d5;">The Life of Hercules: Birth and Childhood</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-life-of-hercules-first-six-labors.html"><span style="color: #c929d5;">The Life of Hercules: The First Six Labors</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-life-of-hercules-final-six-labors.html"><span style="color: #c929d5;">The Life of Hercules: The Final Six Labors</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-life-of-hercules-digression-into.html"><span style="color: #c929d5;">The Life of Hercules: Digression into the Underworld</span></a> </div>
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<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-life-of-hercules-another-digression.html">The Life of Hercules: Another Digression (The Calydonian Boar)</a><br />
<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-life-of-hercules-centaurs-and.html">The Life of Hercules: The Centaurs and the Erymanthian Boar</a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABs2HhTJInqjtdR7yoPUj47eONECzNEIXQWhCIUe1jfr9srVB-0RVKGvoeej-WpypKebEBU-gWcoO6BAkurt8Q-kNVN72HP7eDjaaT6sEIuEF71IImeAdHSIqkaAZaSqWkbdXfxhUUPE/s1600/Is'a'pai'a%2BCarries%2BMother.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABs2HhTJInqjtdR7yoPUj47eONECzNEIXQWhCIUe1jfr9srVB-0RVKGvoeej-WpypKebEBU-gWcoO6BAkurt8Q-kNVN72HP7eDjaaT6sEIuEF71IImeAdHSIqkaAZaSqWkbdXfxhUUPE/s1600/Is'a'pai'a%2BCarries%2BMother.jpg" height="193" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here is a detail of one of my drawings, </span><span style="font-size: small;">showing </span><span style="font-size: small;">Is'a'pai'a</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> carrying <em>ta'ta'wa'tze| </em></span><span style="font-size: small;">on its back across </span><span style="font-size: small;">the river.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Believe it or not, I couldn't find a really appropriate</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">classical </span><span style="font-size: small;">picture showing either the crossing of the </span><span style="font-size: small;">river</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> or the first meeting of Jason with Pelias.</span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hercules was an Argonaut -- a member of Jason's crew on the ship <em>Argo</em> who shared in all the fantastic adventures of this crew of doughty Champions. Hercules was not a major participant and he left the Quest before it was finished, but since it was important in his life, I had to take it into consideration as part of my series <em>The Labors of Ki'shto'ba Huge-Head.</em> </div>
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Those of you who are reading the series may have guessed that Is'a'pai'a, the young outcast Tramontane Warrior, is the stand-in for Jason. The early part of Jason's life forms a fascinating story of its own. <br />
(Parenthetically, the name "Jason" means "Healer," and so I called my character "Is'a'pai'a," which in the Shshi language means "Healing Warrior.")<br />
When you read <em>The Wood Where the Two Moons Shine</em>, you should see many parallels with the early life of of Jason. It's a little complicated in its relationships, so I'm going to quote directly from Robert Graves' <em>Greek Myths</em> (section 148, "The Argonauts Assemble"):<br />
<br />
"After the death of King Cretheus the Aeolian, Pelias, son of Poseidon, already an old man, seized the Iolcan throne from his half-brother Aeson, the rightful heir. An oracle presently warning him that he would be killed by a descendant of Aeolus, Pelias put to death every prominent Aeolian he dared to lay hands upon, except Aeson, whom he spared for his mother Tyro's sake, but kept a prisoner in the palace, forcing him to renounce his inheritance."<br />
In my rendition, Pelias is Wei'thel'a'han, believed to be an offspring of the Highest Mother's Sea King. He is a tyrant from across the sea who invaded and seized the fortress of Hwai'ran'chet (Iolcus), only to find that the current Mother's primary King happens to be Wei'thel'a'han's sibling, both hailing from the fortress of Fet'ro'chet. At that point the Seer/Sorcerer No'tuk'a'nei (who has no direct equivalent in this part of the myths, except as the oracle who predicted the death of Pelias) foretells that a scion of the fortress Fet'ro'chet would cause Wei'thel'a'han's death. So Wei'thel'a'han, who is desperately afraid of death, commits a great atrocity, slaughtering every individual, nymph, and egg in Hwai'ran'chet who was laid after the coming of Fet'ro'hma'no'tze, the King in question. However, Wei'thel'a'han is quite superstitious and fears to kill its own sibling, so Fet'ro'hma'no'tze is simply removed from the presence of the Mother and imprisoned.<br />
Can you see the parallels? Fet'ro'chet the King represents Aeson.<br />
<br />
Graves continues, "Now, Aeson had married Polymele [equivalent to the Mother Ti'gan'ta'zei in Hwai'ran'chet] ... and bore him one son. ... Pelias would have destroyed the child without mercy, had not Polymele summoned her kinswomen to weep over him, as though he were still-born, and then smuggled him out of the city to Mount Pelion; where Cheiron the Centaur reared him, as he did ... with ... Achilles ... and other famous heroes."<br />
In my rendition, the fortress's former Seer smuggles out one small, shriveled egg after telling everyone that it surely was infertile and offering to take it to the Charnel herself. Instead, she takes it into the Spirit Hills, to Zan'tet, the principal fortress of the Yo'sho'zei (equivalent to the Centaurs), where Vai'zei'a'parn the Leader of the Yo'sho'zei, cares for it. Ultimately, it hatches into a little nymph whom Seers name Is'a'pai'a. These same Seers then caution Vai'zei'a'parn that when Is'a'pai'a passes its fourth molt, it must be sent away to seek a great northern hero who would teach it how to be a true Champion. (I think I just invented this last part, but it certainly makes sense. Nobody would want Wei'thel'a'han to learn of the existence of Is'a'pai'a before it matured, and this was a way to get Ki'shto'ba into the story.)<br />
<br />
Now, a second oracle warned Pelias to beware a one-sandalled man, and one day on the seashore he encounters exactly that. Graves writes, "The other sandal he had lost in the muddy river Anaurus ... by the connivance of a crone who, standing on the farther bank, begged passersby to carry her across. None took pity on her, until this young stranger courteously offered her his broad back; but he found himself staggering under the weight, since she was none other than the goddess Hera in disguise. For Pelias had vexed Hera, by withholding her customary sacrifice, and she was determined to punish him for this neglect."<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Therefore, when Pelias asks for the name and lineage of this stranger, Jason blurts out the truth. "Pelias glared at him balefully. 'What would you do,' he inquired suddenly, 'if an oracle announced that one of your fellow citizens were destined to kill you?'</div>
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"'I would send him to fetch the golden ram's fleece from Colchis,' Jason replied, not knowing that Hera had placed those words in his mouth." </div>
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Of course, this is exactly what is destined to happen, and so the Quest for the Golden Fleece was launched. The problem is, how does one adapt all that to the termite culture? Termites don't wear sandals, after all. And how can Is'a'pai'a carry the Mother Goddess on its back? But it makes very good sense that the same vengeful Highest-Mother-Who-Has-No-Name who engineered the downfall of Thel'or'ei for violating the prime directive of the Shshi worship system: thou shalt not harm the progenitors who give you life! -- that this same goddess would be enraged at Wei'thel'a'han for its own violent treatment of the life force. </div>
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Anyway, I'm not going to tell you how I did it! In the picture above I purposely blocked out the lower part of Is'a'pai'a's six legs! It's a pivotal event in the latest volume to be published, <em>The Wood Where the Two Moon Shines</em>, and if you want to know, you'll just have to read the book, or preferably the whole series, first! </div>
<br />
</div>
Lorinda J Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16985567506994751475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2233685335369677578.post-39418707182704508292014-09-07T09:06:00.000-07:002014-09-07T09:08:35.311-07:00The Wood Where the Two Moons Shine Is Published!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDDvaxxiCGUbdu7mzaDoo6NIL01UTMCoqapd8RkqXdO4QjfEKeuyTorvXFbrqEzKFJPPzUfaeCNMmBms_bk2XR9NEQXiU42H337RQcpp0u57eHCgUVZPSE8zTGYIcQAevT6CerbwMVg8/s1600/Front+cover,+Wood+Where.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDDvaxxiCGUbdu7mzaDoo6NIL01UTMCoqapd8RkqXdO4QjfEKeuyTorvXFbrqEzKFJPPzUfaeCNMmBms_bk2XR9NEQXiU42H337RQcpp0u57eHCgUVZPSE8zTGYIcQAevT6CerbwMVg8/s1600/Front+cover,+Wood+Where.jpg" height="320" width="205" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Front cover</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><strong>The Labors of Ki'shto'ba Huge-Head</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><strong>Volume Five</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><strong>The Wood Where the Two Moons Shine</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><strong><span style="color: blue;"> </span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><strong>is now published!</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><strong><span style="color: blue;"> </span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><strong>Only one more volume to go!</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
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Here is the description of v.5:</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzR8mErdmMcSf3pfRp8QeMOQkAnVFaqPp3ra_Te-J8SrMMv29gddTGNl1ZIu0s1Fp8I41VT0q-23RoKiJSIPUb0UUwKebWEVo5ddYig-hz_jadRd620LNjaLd_Je1HJg1xXbX_9VQnl4A/s1600/Back+Cover,+Wood,+final.jpg" height="320" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="205" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Back cover</span></td></tr>
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The Companions
arrive at the Hidden Fortress and meet Vai’zei’a’parn, the Leader of the
Yo’sho’zei, who was Is’a’pai’a’s mentor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Is’a’pai’a finally learns the story of its origin – how its egg was laid
in Hwai’ran’chet at a time when that mighty fortress had come under the
domination of an invading tyrant named Wei’thel’a’han.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here the treacherous No’tuk’a’nei, a
power-hungry Alate Seer-Sorcerer who happens to be the hatchmate of
Vai’zei’a’parn, convinced the new Commander that a nymph of a certain lineage
would be the agent of its death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since
the current King of the fortress was of that lineage, Wei’thel’a’han ordered
the destruction of every egg laid and every individual hatched since that King
came to the Mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the midst of the
ensuing slaughter, one egg was rescued and taken to the Hidden Fortress, where
it was given to Vai’zei’a’parn for safekeeping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Is’a’pai’a hatched from this egg and now it learns that its destiny is
to be the Champion who delivers Hwai’ran’chet – and its own Mother – from the
clutches of the Tyrant and its evil Sorcerer.<br />
The
Companions linger in Zan’tet, where a seemingly harmless adventure ends in
disaster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ultimately, Ki’shto’ba and its
Companions depart to finish the Quest to reach the sea before venturing into
Hwai’ran’chet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Accompanied by the newly
acquired 11th Companion, the group soon encounters the 12th, who guides them to
the shore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Arriving at sunset, they can at
last see the Golden Path on which thy must tread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Many
prophecies will find their answer as the future continues to unfold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the final chapter, a ship has been built
and the Quest for the Golden Fungus is about to begin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The leadership of the Quest then passes to
Is’a’pai’a even as the Companions learn the meaning of “The Wood Where the Two
Moons Shine.”</div>
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</div>
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<strong>A Word on Volume Six</strong></div>
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<strong></strong> </div>
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The final volume in the series will be entitled <em>The Revenge of the Dead Enemy</em>, with all the ominous implications that phrase carries -- and you'll know what I mean if you've read the earlier volumes and remember the prophecies of certain Seers. I hope to have v.6 published well before Christmas. It will complete the questing begun by Ki'shto'ba Huge-Head, Di'fa'kro'mi the Remembrancer, and their Companions way back at the end of <em>The Termite Queen</em>. However, it doesn't complete the whole story, so </div>
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</div>
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<strong>There must be a sequel!</strong></div>
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<strong>And it hasn't been written yet!</strong></div>
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</div>
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My plan is to write one more book, which will probably be entitled <em>The Buried Ship at the End of the World</em>.<em> </em>I expect the writing of this book to go a bit slow. I haven't really written anything new (no major fiction at least) in several years, so I expect to be rusty. In the meantime, I've also gotten older (I assume nobody has gotten younger over the last few years!) and less energetic. </div>
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Furthermore, Di'fa'kro'mi won't be writing the last volume. I won't say more than that right now, but the person composing the book will be inexperienced at the Remembrancer's craft and he will have to narrate the tale in the third person. I'm so used to Di'fa'kro'mi's point of view that I may find it hard to get inspired. But maybe when I actually start writing, I'll get into it. I have some notes already, and I intend to do some more mythological research. I also mean to make a chapter outline and stick to it, so I won't make my usual blunder of letting the length get away from me. I guess I really am a planner, not a pantser! Improvising is disastrous for me!</div>
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In the meantime, those of you who haven't read any of the series have some fun ahead of you! Here are the links where you can buy all my books, or scroll down the sidebar for individual volumes:</div>
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</div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/u9bYWa"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Amazon</span></strong></a> (Kindle should appear by 9/10/14)</div>
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<a href="http://amazon.co.uk/"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Amazon.co.uk</span></strong></a></div>
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(and all other Amazon branches)</div>
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<a href="https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/TermiteWriter"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Smashwords</span></strong></a></div>
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</div>
Lorinda J Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16985567506994751475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2233685335369677578.post-39344933651588674652014-08-13T08:57:00.001-07:002014-08-13T08:57:53.454-07:00The Life of Hercules: The Centaurs and the Erymanthian Boar<div style="text-align: center;">
Sixth of a series. Here are the earlier
posts:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-life-of-hercules-birth-and-childhood.html"><span style="color: #c929d5;">The Life of Hercules: Birth and
Childhood</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-life-of-hercules-first-six-labors.html"><span style="color: #c929d5;">The Life of Hercules: The First Six
Labors</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-life-of-hercules-final-six-labors.html"><span style="color: #c929d5;">The Life of Hercules: The Final Six
Labors</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-life-of-hercules-digression-into.html"><span style="color: #c929d5;">The
Life of Hercules: Digression into the Underworld</span></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-life-of-hercules-another-digression.html">The Life of Hercules: Another Digression (The Calydonian Boar)</a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZaZbkrotkaLkBOXESSj18_paugK4I_LYEdw6EWVwLNAmSSl6RisVXT3UfDhYNOR8goBn3PypBGx6PrdYg1mfwDTCyOqsnrVUQDJxtY4QG7Eh0nHMxCZa0qs42BXla0I4K9VMcqZGQFp4/s1600/Centaur+terra+cotta,+8th+c..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZaZbkrotkaLkBOXESSj18_paugK4I_LYEdw6EWVwLNAmSSl6RisVXT3UfDhYNOR8goBn3PypBGx6PrdYg1mfwDTCyOqsnrVUQDJxtY4QG7Eh0nHMxCZa0qs42BXla0I4K9VMcqZGQFp4/s1600/Centaur+terra+cotta,+8th+c..jpg" height="320" width="175" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Terra cotta centaur statue, 8th c. BCE. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">(Bibi Saint-Pol / Wikimedia Commons)</span><br />
<a href="http://www.argonauts-book.com/cheiron.html">http://www.argonauts-book.com/cheiron.html</a></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Centaurs and the Lapiths are both depicted in ancient myths as descendants of Ixion and they represent certain pre-Hellenic mountain tribes of northern Greece, according to Robert Graves in his <em>Greek Myths</em>. Two different versions of their origin (see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapith">Lapiths</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centaurs">Centaurs</a> in Wikipedia) confuse the picture, but in one of these Lapithes and Centaurus were presented as twins. Lapithes went on to found the human race of Lapiths, while Centaurus mated with the Magnesian mares, producing the race of Centaurs. Thus the two peoples were in effect cousins, even though they became mortal enemies. Early depictions of Centaurs show them as humans with a human's legs and a horse's rear attached at the back, while the currently more familiar form of a man's torso on a horse body developed later on. <br />
As time passed, the Centaurs began to be viewed as more barbarous than the human Lapiths. "The strife among these cousins is a metaphor for the conflict between the lower appetites and civilized behavior in humankind." (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centaurs">Centaurs</a> in Wikipedia)<br />
The Centaurs were unused to wine. When they were invited to the wedding of the Lapith Pirithous, they consumed wine in a barbarous fashion, i.e. straight, undiluted with water, and in excessive quantities. Hence, they became very drunk and began to attempt to have sex with all the women (and the men, too). A great battle ensued, in which the Centaurs were defeated. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NbMjvvAgrajBJXjmFvydtQZ0TlhDyl469_IQXzHkDXBUE4XN2ikbq-t2j8UAev31BxY3f5kLXV7LqMWDFnUsAHnA2gUGVxBglTuTkUsMXFm3zJaXh1Vx5sICmN5hhUY0PezfRy1vqtU/s1600/Cheiron+&+student.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NbMjvvAgrajBJXjmFvydtQZ0TlhDyl469_IQXzHkDXBUE4XN2ikbq-t2j8UAev31BxY3f5kLXV7LqMWDFnUsAHnA2gUGVxBglTuTkUsMXFm3zJaXh1Vx5sICmN5hhUY0PezfRy1vqtU/s1600/Cheiron+&+student.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cheiron and possibly Achilles, although it </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">could just as well be Jason.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Etruscan vase, c. 500-480 BCE </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">(© Fæ / Wikimedia Commons)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> <a href="http://www.argonauts-book.com/cheiron.html">http://www.argonauts-book.com/cheiron.html</a> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Strangely enough, even though the Centaurs represented the lower nature of humans, they could also produce great teachers, both of the arts of battle and of philosophical and moral matters. This aspect of the Centaurs is best represented by the wise and honorable <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheiron#Students">Cheiron</a>. Achilles' father gave him into Cheiron's tutelage to learn how to be a Champion, and Cheiron also mentored Patroclus, Asclepius, Jason, and other heroes (see list in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheiron#Students">Wikipedia</a> article). He taught them not only how to fight but how to live. <br />
Heracles was not mentored by Cheiron, but nevertheless they were friends. This brings us to the topic of the Erymanthian Boar, the Fourth Labor of Heracles. I spoke about that briefly in my post <a href="http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-life-of-hercules-first-six-labors.html"><span style="color: #c929d5;">The Life of Hercules: The First Six Labors</span></a>, but I want to elaborate a bit here. Boar hunts are common in Greek myth; after all the wild boar was a giant and fierce animal. We already dicussed the Calydonian Boar Hunt, and who can forget that Adonis was killed by a boar? However, our present interest lies in what happened as Heracles was on his way to Mount Erymanthos to capture the boar. He stopped in at the house of Pholus, another kindly and friendly Centaur, and at dinner Heracles asked for wine. Again, the concept that the Centaurs did not know how to handle wine comes into play. The scent of wine attracted other Centaurs, who drank it straight, became rowdy, and attacked Heracles. He shot at them with his arrows, which had been poisoned by the blood of the hydra, and they retreated to the cave-home of Cheiron.<br />
Curious as to why the arrows were so lethal, Pholus picked one up and dropped it on his own foot, thus causing his own death. But more importantly, in the melee of the battle one of the arrows struck Cheiron. Being a son of Chronus, Cheiron was immortal, but the pain of the poison was so great that he volunteered to give up his immortality in ransom for Prometheus. Naturally, Heracles grieved mightily at having killed two of his old friends.<br />
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So how do I make use of all this in <em>The Labors of Ki'shto'ba Huge-Head</em>? I needed a species of Shshi that could represent the Centaurs. The termite world is not fantastic enough to have a people who are, say, half termite and half reptilian (there are no mammals on that planet). But there are many varieties of nasutoids (termites whose soldiers have both fighting mandibles and a poison-spraying gland; true nasute soldiers have only a poison-spraying gland and hardly any mandibles at all). To the plains Shshi Ki'shto'ba and Di'fa'kro'mi, a nasutoid appears like a hybrid. So I created the Yo'sho'zei -- the Ancient Ones -- who are supposed to be an archaic species of Shshi, the oldest in origin that are known. They have enormous, downward-hooking mandibles and a gland on their heads that produces a foamy, lethal acid spray. Their home is far to the south, near the sea, in a obscure region known as the Spirit Hills, and they have a mysterious reputation of being Sorcerers and Sages, attuned to things of the spirit. We meet one of their Workers in the person of Krai'zei, the young Is'a'pai'a's aide and caretaker.<br />
What do I do for Cheiron? He is such an important figure that I divided him into two people. The Warrior Ju'mu, whom we encounter in v.1: <em>The War of the Stolen Mother</em> represents the trainer of Warriors. Ju'mu is shown as the mentor of Nei'ga'bao Swift-Foot just as Cheiron mentored Achilles and it teaches Ki'shto'ba how to fight with an extra-body weapon. The name "Cheiron" means "hand," but I couldn't name Ju'mu just "Mu" (claw), so I named him "Hard Claw."<br />
The wise scholar and healer who is the other aspect of Cheiron doesn't appear as a speaking character until v.5: <em>The Wood Where the Two Moons Shine</em>, which I'm just preparing for publication. Vai'zei'a'parn is an aged Alate who mentored Is'a'pai'a (the Jason figure) as a nymph and obeyed a Seer's instruction to send Is'a'pai'a off to roam northern lands and find a Champion to teach it. I couldn't use the meaning "hand" twice, so Vai'zei'a'parn's name means "Giver of Knowledge."<br />
How I complete the myth -- i.e., how the Erymanthian boar fits in, how Heracles kills Cheiron by accident, and how the drunken Centaur aspect is utilized -- will remain a mystery until you read the fifth volume!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A more typical depiction of a Centaur</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Probably one of the drunken ones!</span><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centaur">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centaur</a>#</td></tr>
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Besides the Wikipedia references mentioned in the text above, the following articles are of interest: </div>
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<a href="http://www.mythindex.com/greek-mythology/C/Cheiron.html">http://www.mythindex.com/greek-mythology/C/Cheiron.html</a><br />
<a href="http://www.argonauts-book.com/cheiron.html">http://www.argonauts-book.com/cheiron.html</a><br />
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Lorinda J Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16985567506994751475noreply@blogger.com0