Dec-22-2008, 08:28 PM (UTC)
In Fool's Fate, the Fool makes his case for preserving the dragon species by arguing that humans require dragons to remind them that their dominance of nature is an illusion.
Adult dragons are virtually indestructible, as proved by the Pale Woman's inability to kill Icefyre, even when the dragon is immobilised in ice. Dragons are as intelligent, and as arrogant, as humans but utterly wild and untameable. Dragons are also much longer-lived than humans. Together with their ability to pass on memories between generations, this gives dragons a long-term view of the World that humans lack. However, although dragons have enormous wisdom, they remain creatures of tradition and instinct. When a geological cataclysm destroys the Elderling civilisation and kills most of the adult dragons, the few survivors are unable to adapt and fall into despair.
In contrast, humans are short-lived and shortsighted but incredibly adaptable, tinkering with their environment to make the hostile habitable. Although they are weak individually, when considered collectively humans are powerful and dangerous. The ignorant tinkering of the Rainwild Traders destroys most of the surviving dragon cocoons and then Dutiful's foolish quest comes near to killing the last adult male dragon. However, it is also human inventiveness that eventually frees the last surviving dragons and saves the species.
The Elderling civilisation, a symbiosis between human (or humanoid) and dragon is presented as an ideal in which human ingenuity is placed at the service of nature. Even in this case, there are hints of tension between human and dragon but perhaps such tension is necessary, productive even.
Would our world benefit from dragons?
Adult dragons are virtually indestructible, as proved by the Pale Woman's inability to kill Icefyre, even when the dragon is immobilised in ice. Dragons are as intelligent, and as arrogant, as humans but utterly wild and untameable. Dragons are also much longer-lived than humans. Together with their ability to pass on memories between generations, this gives dragons a long-term view of the World that humans lack. However, although dragons have enormous wisdom, they remain creatures of tradition and instinct. When a geological cataclysm destroys the Elderling civilisation and kills most of the adult dragons, the few survivors are unable to adapt and fall into despair.
In contrast, humans are short-lived and shortsighted but incredibly adaptable, tinkering with their environment to make the hostile habitable. Although they are weak individually, when considered collectively humans are powerful and dangerous. The ignorant tinkering of the Rainwild Traders destroys most of the surviving dragon cocoons and then Dutiful's foolish quest comes near to killing the last adult male dragon. However, it is also human inventiveness that eventually frees the last surviving dragons and saves the species.
The Elderling civilisation, a symbiosis between human (or humanoid) and dragon is presented as an ideal in which human ingenuity is placed at the service of nature. Even in this case, there are hints of tension between human and dragon but perhaps such tension is necessary, productive even.
Would our world benefit from dragons?
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