Talk:Dragaera

Intelligent species

Shouldn't we include Jhereg? Wikibofh_(talk) 13:49, 28 July 2006 (UTC)

I'm not sure there's enough evidence to support jhereg as an intelligent species. Really, we've seen one case -- Loiosh -- and one could argue that he's a special case, being Vlad's familiar. --Pyran 18:38, 5 September 2006 (UTC)

• Actually, we have 2 cases, and the statement that the Jenoine made them intelligent (from Aliera, in ...um....Athyra?) I can dig up book ref if need be. Wikibofh_(talk) 23:41, 25 September 2006 (UTC)

spoiler tag?

• what about them? Wikibofh_(talk) 23:41, 25 September 2006 (UTC)

• • (Spoiler) They are another intelligent species, not listed in the list. The discussion is when Aliera is talking about genetic scanning and talks about the experiments done: Dragaerans are spliced, Easterners are unknown, possibly a control species, and jhereg were an experiment to cram as much intelligence into the size of a walnut. That's a very rough paraphrase as I haven't read it in many years. Incidentally, Loiosh's mother was sentient (at least could carry a psionic conversation), and she was a wild jhereg. 71.58.60.115 01:25, 7 January 2007 (UTC)

Also, shouldn't cat-centaurs be included? At least they have language and technology. Lavateraguy (talk) 16:25, 31 March 2011 (UTC)

Magic as Technology

A fairly novel (or at least distinctive) aspect to Dragaera is that magic has no spiritual attachment to it. It is treated as technology, with a bit of philosophical musing at times, but never in a religious or spiritual manner. Unless somebody can cite otherwise? Certainly the predominant treatment in the novels is magic as a functional trade rather than a mystical one. 71.58.60.115 01:25, 7 January 2007 (UTC)

Well, the Overview section of the Dragaeran Empire mentions that magic serves as a replacement for technology. Also, I don't think that magic being separate from religion or deities is very novel for a fantasy series. As I recall, arguably the two most popular fantasy series out right now, Wheel of Time and Sword of Truth, contain magic that doesn't have anything to do with gods or religion. Also, Dragaeran magic is mixed up a bit in divinity. Witchcraft has something to do with worship of deities, as seen by Vlad and Morrolan's devotion to Verra being an aspect of their witchcraft. Sorcery and the Orb are also entwined somewhat with the Jenoine and the gods. On the whole I don't think it's safe to start claiming that Dragaera's magic is somehow unique in any particular regard. That kind of assertion would have to be cited anyway, and I don't expect to find that citation. -Captain Crawdad 06:35, 7 January 2007 (UTC)

The Overview mentions that "The sky over the Empire is permanently overcast with reddish clouds due to millennia of magic usage." Do we have a reference for this? I know about the Enclouding, but my impression is that it's more a deliberate effect than a side effect of magic use. As I recall it is confined very sharply to the physical territory of the Empire, with little or no "leakage" into neighboring lands. That suggests that it is/was produced for some deliberate purpose that Brust has yet to explain. Any thoughts/references on this? Psuliin (talk) 19:26, 28 November 2007 (UTC)

It's taken from the "Small, Invisible Lights" essay that the article references several times. In it, Brust writes, "The overcast may, if you are so inclined, be considered pollution. It is the result of sorcerers casually using magic for war, pleasure, and taking out the garbage for something like two hundred thousand years." -Captain Crawdad (talk) 01:41, 24 February 2008 (UTC)

Cracks and Shards URL

I've changed the URL for Cracks and Shards, in accordance with the text on the home page there at the end of the first section ("Welcome"):

When citing or linking to this site, please use the URL http://www.cracksandshards.com. It resolves to the page's current location at my server ISP, but while that may change, the domain should remain constant. (It was, alas, misprinted in the Acknowledgements of Paths of the Dead.)

Besides, it's my website. :-)

--Thnidu (talk) 21:41, 4 March 2010 (UTC)

Noting that Cracks and Shards is still down, and the Lyorn Records website is still current and being updated, I tried adding the Lyorn Records URL to the external links. It is the only fan website of those listed that is current and up-to-date. AND SOMEONE REVERTED MY ADDITION. Does anyone else want to see a current Dragaera website on the list of links, or would everyone prefer it to appear that the fan base is dead?

Steve Rapaport (talk) 10:43, 15 September 2017 (UTC)

Agree with Steverapaport. Nikkimaria, the Lyorn Records is current and is pretty reliable, and should be included. But rather than edit-warring, let's discuss it here. Please {{Ping}} me to discuss. --Thnidu (talk) 04:03, 22 September 2017 (UTC)

See WP:ELNO. Nikkimaria (talk) 10:49, 22 September 2017 (UTC)

Well, that sucks. Neither you nor I nor even Corwin or DD-B is notable enough to make a fan site that Wikipedia will link to! So ALL the fan links have now gone. Fair, but hardly informative. Steve Rapaport (talk) 18:10, 25 September 2017 (UTC)

Enhanced lifespans?

"Their lifespans are greatly enhanced" -- this would imply that there is some outside effect upon their lifespans. As far as I know (two books behind!), their lifespans as a species are naturally a few thousand years. Certainly the Interregnum had no effect and Teckla who can't afford magic live that long. 74.179.192.4 (JabberWokky@WikiSpot) 14:02, 1 April 2011 (UTC)

Dragaeran lifespans are "greatly enhanced" as compared with the baseline humans the Jenoine made them from. —chaos5023 (talk) 21:51, 25 September 2017 (UTC)

Userboxes

I made some Dragaera userboxes, available at this page. :) Jenphalian (talk) 05:50, 12 January 2013 (UTC)

Small Extinguished Lights

The website that was formerly referenced as "Small Invisible Lights" has been gone for many years, but an archived version exists on the Wayback Machine.* The link so labeled in the "References" section is was the same URL as the Dzurlord introduction, which is also titled "Small Invisible Lights"; I've changed it to point to the Wayback copy. (The name refers to the stars, which cannot be seen from the Empire because of the Overcast; no, I don't remember where the reference is.)

* See Cracks and Shards: list of other Dragaera websites.

Thnidu (talk) 05:18, 22 March 2013 (UTC)

Greater Cosmology

It might be a good idea to note that it is set in a cosmology of neighboring alternate universes (often called planes in the books), as it pops up now and then and ties into the Jenoine's (and Necromancer's) non-three-dimensional thinking and perception. Sethra the Younger's punishment (in Yendi? One of the first three books) is in yet another universe, and time travels differently there. I seem to recall (uncertain) that there has been hints that our Earth is another plane of existence parallel to Dragaera. It has been years, so I can't recall where or how explicit the notion is. It may have just been a passing suggestion in one of the books. If it was explicit, it would be relevant to the topic of cosmology. I would suggest that Halls of Judgement might be moved there as well. 74.240.193.87 (talk) 16:01, 27 June 2014 (UTC)

Steve talks with Paarfi and receives transmissions (via the "strange box") from Vlad, so our universe is certainly in the same multiverse. I'd get the references from Cracks and Shards if it were still up; I hope to get it up again (but not this month or next!). --Thnidu (talk) 02:08, 15 August 2014 (UTC)