If you’re curious, please read the story; it’s short, and interesting! Actually, let me just spoil the premise now because I think it’s neat and suspect other people will as well.
Knapsack Poems is about an alien race called the goxhat, in which each “person” consists of around 10 individuals, of varying gender. There’s no telepathy or anything cheap like that, it’s just a cornerstone cultural meme for the goxhat.
So when The Poet Who Is Odd asks themself “Why did I do that?”, it’s not rhetorical. Arguing with oneself is not uncommon.
It’s not necessarily rhetorical even for actual people in the real world. At least, I often find that when I ask myself questions and answer them out loud (or in writing), I get surprising answers. (Arguing with myself is not uncommon.)
Interesting… After reading Three Worlds Collide, I’ve developed a taste for stories involving aliens that are… well, alien. I skimmed that section of the story, but I apparently didn’t pick up on enough.
Thanks for the recommendation!
| “Why did I do that?” I asked.
-- The Poet Who Is Odd, Knapsack Poems by Elanor Arnason
The mind boggles as to what he has actually done that is so strange on reflection.
-- Dr. Weird, “Aqua Teen Hunger Force*
If you’re curious, please read the story; it’s short, and interesting! Actually, let me just spoil the premise now because I think it’s neat and suspect other people will as well.
Knapsack Poems is about an alien race called the goxhat, in which each “person” consists of around 10 individuals, of varying gender. There’s no telepathy or anything cheap like that, it’s just a cornerstone cultural meme for the goxhat.
So when The Poet Who Is Odd asks themself “Why did I do that?”, it’s not rhetorical. Arguing with oneself is not uncommon.
It’s not necessarily rhetorical even for actual people in the real world. At least, I often find that when I ask myself questions and answer them out loud (or in writing), I get surprising answers. (Arguing with myself is not uncommon.)
Also, you might enjoy Vinge’s Fire Upon the Deep.
--E. M. Forster
(Strongly second the Vinge recommendation.)
Yeah, I quote that quote a lot.
Interesting… After reading Three Worlds Collide, I’ve developed a taste for stories involving aliens that are… well, alien. I skimmed that section of the story, but I apparently didn’t pick up on enough. Thanks for the recommendation!