Fave Species?

What is your fave species, and why?

The Hani. I love the earrings, the panache, the lack of interspecies prejudice, the fully imagined culture and biology.

Hmmmmm...

It's a toss up between the Hani and the Atevi, I think. For all the thought that went into creating their cultures.

Do the azi count? I always really wanted one. Is that wrong? I'd feed it and take care of it, I promise! I'd like someone I can totally rely on who I know would have my back. It's probably wrong because they're really pretty much slaves. But I can't help it. The depth of commitment I see in Ari's relationship with Caitlin and Florian is just too compelling for me. I think that I have a hard time with the cultural turbulence that we swim through which results in lack of relational depth. Or maybe it's just me. I could be a selfish jerk. Demanding. High strung.

If azi don't count I think I'd pick either the stsho for their aesthetics and phasing (I love that) or the ondat for their patience, restraint and obvious interest in ecologies and conservation.

Peace,
Suzdal

The atevi, because of the detail and intricacy of their culture, and the mahendo'sat, because their curiosity and meddling is a nice mirror of humanity...

I like the Mahen, and the kif. Especially the kif - there's something oddly attractive about that total lack of any redeeming features whatsoever.

I have to admit a quiet admiration for the methane breathers. The knnn, t'ca, and (maybe) chi.
Why? Because they have to put up with the other species grand Machiavellian schemes, and never seem to complain about (or actually vaporize) anybody.

They also seem to be integrated, and anybody that steps out of line seem to be dealt with rather...er...harshly (Maybe. Who really knows? That whole getting dragged off into The Between might be a reward, for all we know.)

We should, perhaps, be clear whether our preferences are for the artistry with which the species is portrayed, or instead the ones we'd most like to have a beer with, ourselves. For my own part, it was the latter, decidedly.

Mine would have been the former, based on the fact that since we can't breathe the same atmosphere, I doubt if out taste in beer coincides. Or anything else, for that matter.

Kyhm Mahn (if he didn't claw me to bits on sight) would be my choice to have a drink with. I would like to ask him what he was thinking...

you number one good on this board

I'm partial to the mix in the Chanur books, lets really stretch herself with the many-species interactions. Like to see what she could do now, after all, Pride came out almost 30 years ago. WOW !

The Mri. They are honorable and honest, and with a long history of service. Though they may appear inflexible on the surface, their adoption of Sten Duncan and the ursine-type beasts (the name escapes me) indicates otherwise. The Kel caste is compelling, but I'm more likely Sen. And the caste thing isn't discriminatory, except that adults males can't be Kath (but none have ever wanted to be, to my knowledge). Though their world seemed on the brink of extinction, they have humor and hope.

Believe it or not, I really like the qhal of the Morgaine series. But the Hani are my all time fav.

Will somebody please think of the iduve?

Same for me. At least as the mahendo'sat goes - I would probably feel a bit intimidated by the atevi appearance
Plus I can imagine the former enjoying a good ale, just like me.

So would the Hani, I assume, but somehow they don't appeal as much to me.

Nighthorses

I think a relationship with one might be fascinating