Talk:Sea-serpents

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?

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)