Difference between revisions of "Talk:Sea-serpents"

Latest revision as of 18:55, 26 October 2010

Is Indian Ocean correct? The ship is not long out from New Amsterdam.

I'm not positive, but I think it is correct. I believe she's talking about Amsterdam Island. - Strangerface 17:54, 18 January 2007 (PST)

sentient? or not?[edit]

Although Temeraire thought the creature perhaps had simply not had an opportunity to learn speech, the narrator/author tells us: "to Laurence the lack of sentience in the creature's eyes had been wholly obvious."

So my question is this, as it stands, is the Wiki entry somewhat misleading? Which of the characters did the author intend us to take as accurate . . . Laurence or Temeraire?

LadyLyn 12:00, 28 July 2007 (PDT)

I don't think it's a question of accuracy as much as point of view. The books are all from Laurence's point of view, but that doesn't make him right about everything :)

I'm not sure I'd agree that "Temeraire instinctively felt that the serpent was a sentient creature" but he did, certainly, want to err on the side of sentience, and regrets its death. He strongly disagrees with Laurence's assumption it was not sentient, in the exchange that begins: "Temeraire, you cannot think that beast anything like a dragon."

Hope that helps. :)

-whitearrow 09:54, 30 July 2007 (PDT)

I hadn't forgotten that Temeraire had disagreed; however, the author leaves us with Laurence politely declining to argue, feeling unable to articulate his own understanding. That leaves me feeling as if our wiki ought to include both PoVs. Is that valid?

LadyLyn 16:40, 30 July 2007 (PDT)

If you feel you can do a more accurate entry, feel free to go ahead and edit. That's what the wiki is all about! I'm sure if the original author disagrees, we'll hear from them, and it can be discussed further.

-whitearrow 19:05, 30 July 2007 (PDT)

need help w/heading[edit]

I have taken the liberty to correct some grammar and spelling in this entry, but how do I correct the heading itself?

I assume we are following the conventions established by the author (or the author's publisher) who chose to spell sea-serpent with a hyphen connecting the words/? According to that style, the heading s/b capitalized only at the beginning, not following the hyphen.

LadyLyn 17:29, 4 August 2007 (PDT)

Mythological counterpart[edit]

Just a quick note; a list of Chinese Dragons lists a Jiao-Long, which seems to fit with the "Kiao" name used (and Kiao is in fact used as a spelling variant (or a mistranslation) three times on the page). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiaolong Almaron 02:28, 29 August 2010 (PDT)

I can't find the source, but I know there used to be a page on Wikipedia or somewhere for Kiao (and I actually saw a mention of one in a book at a second hand store). From memory, the Kiao was a sea-serpent that in time could turn into a dragon, through either its age or deeds (or something like that). Almaron 22:55, 1 September 2010 (PDT)

Canonicity of this statement?[edit]

What's this from? It doesn't sound like it's canon to me!

Sea-serpents of varying sizes can be found in all major oceans and seas. Those in the Atlantic Ocean reach no more than twelve feet even in the warmer waters off the coast of Brazil. Observational data on the sizes of Pacific serpents is scarce since they usually dive when approached by ships.

Almaron 21:34, 24 October 2010 (PDT)

Eh, it *was* canon. From Throne of Jade: The creature’s body was immensely long; its head and forelegs vanished beneath the waves on the other side of the ship, and its hindquarters had not yet emerged, the scales shading to deeper blue and purple iridescence as the length of it kept coming, undulating onwards. Laurence had never seen one even a tenth the size; the Atlantic serpents reached no more than twelve feet even in the warm waters off the coast of Brazil, and those in the Pacific dived when ships drew near, rarely seen as anything more than fins breaking the water. Obviously, though, things have changed since China threw its hat into the sea-serpent ring. Strangerface 08:38, 26 October 2010 (PDT)

Whoops! I mistook it for one of the statements off the Wikipedia Temeraire articles where people just make up stuff. I think their dragon breed page still has "Horntail" listed as a Temeraire dragon. Ugh. Almaron 11:55, 26 October 2010 (PDT)