teratoid symbols

b sharp · 25 Jul 2006, 15:22 · from 2006-July.txt.gz

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From: bsharporflat at hotmail.com (b sharp)
Date: Tue, 25 Jul 2006 11:22:32 -0400
Subject: (urth) teratoid symbols
Message-ID: <BAY103-F16D62D553D2FA9CCFFD67FD75A0 at phx.gbl>

In a recent criticism of my Urth before Earth ideas, one anonymous reviewer 
asserted that Earth must be in the past of Urth because of

"the radiation hazard warning signs in the House Absolute, the radioactive 
isotopes in the mine at Saltus which have decayed to stable, non-radioactive 
heavy metals"

Are these Lupinology world truisms or the foibles of this one person?

Regarding radiation hazard warning signs, I have seen mention of them in the 
past but I didn't know it was accepted dogma as explanation for the teratoid 
symbols which seem to mark Father Inire's areas.  Worth addressing.

I think the interpretation is a mistake, though understandable.  Radiation 
sources are often referred to as "teratogenic" but radiation is only one of 
a number of teratogens. The terato prefix means malformed.  And its roots 
are from Greek for monster (or portent).

I suspect Wolfe intended that interpretation for Father Inire.

-bsharp

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