A while ago I bought a lounger from Costco. It arrived shrink-wrapped in a largish but not overly huge box. We unwrapped the stuffing, filled the lounger, and placed it in the living room.
Overnight the lounger expanded to a rather large size. The animals soon discovered its existence, and now the lounger is a coveted nap spot.
I feel like I need a metaphorical lounger in my life to comfortably cushion me from weird problems. So now if someone asks me, “What would you throne look like?” I would show them this picture and tell them, “Just like that.”
I can’t sit in the lounger right now – I have to type this – but imagine that I am sitting there in comfort, so I can take on some of the questions this week.
Some comments expressed concerns that Kosandion is not staying true or pure to his race by having an offspring with alien DNA. While not at all intended as such by the commenters, this is a concept most frequently mentioned by Aryan nations and other neo-Nazi organizations because it is deeply racist. We are going to steer clear of this on the blog. All comments concerning that subject will be removed.
Just to be clear, nobody is accusing anybody of being a racist. We know that in the few cases this was mentioned, it was due to an unfortunate choice of words, but we are not going to have that phrase anywhere here.
Some comments expressed concern about Kosandion and Caldenia having a variety of sexual partners, some of them less human than others.
This is my profile courtesy of 23&Me.
A lot of people have at least some Neanderthal DNA. We have it because our ancestors interbred with Neanderthals. We’ve obtained some beneficial traits, and some detrimental traits from that exchange. Humans are rather enterprising when it comes to variety of sexual partners, and if we ever get out into the Great Beyond of the Universe and meet humanlike aliens, we will be having sex with them. We will likely have sex with non humanoid aliens, if the parts fit well enough and both parties consent.
This is not a new concept. ::insert smiley face::
Some commenters are really hung up on mechanics of producing an offspring between a human and a non human species and how could this be possible. To explain this simply: it will be done in a lab. They will take sperm from Kosandion, fertilize a suitable egg provided by a voluntary donor with it, and manually edit the chromosomes inserting bits of the alien DNA from the spousal candidate they find desirable. The gestation will take place in an artificial womb and the child will be “born” in a hospital setting.
This idea and its practical applications were popularized by Jurassic Park (1993) almost 30 years ago when dinosaur and frog DNA was spliced together.
So why have the spousal selection in the first place? Well, because each specific candidate has unique and valuable genetic traits and because bringing a child into the world is just the beginning. A child must be nurtured, loved, cherished, and educated. They will learn things particular to each parent’s culture, they will see two different ways of dealing with problems, and they will also learn to navigate the world where there are multiple authority figures, which will hopefully benefit them as the next Sovereign of the Dominion.
Some commenters would really like to vote in the polls just like Dominion citizens do. We can absolutely do this. We will have the first poll up later in the week. We will do a poll before the challenges and after and we will post the ongoing numbers. We are very excited for the spousal selections.
And now I have to leave the lounger to write more words.
Thank you for a bit more behind the scenes. Some poofs are a bit hard for me to get out of (e.g. beanbags) but that poof looks like it does the trick for your Pug 🙂
Oh, Tubs is a Frenchie.
Ah, I see it! The ears give it away.
So the Sovereign role is hereditary? I kind of assumed from the “Assassination War” comment that he won the position after his father was killed.
Yes 🙂 , there are a lot of references to “dynasty” and heirs if you read through the chapters.
It is hereditary; however, as Plantagenets have shows us, hereditary doesn’t mean free of being challenged. 🙂
Thanks. After I asked I remembered Ancient China and Egypt where a dynasty lasted until it was overthrown, and then a new dynasty started. But this sounds like being the heir isn’t sufficient, you must also prove yourself capable. Historically England, China and Egypt might have benefited from that clause.
Also, certain family-owned companies.
Imagine if all the rich heirs would have to go through a Hunger games style inheritance process in order to get the family money. Only instead of fights to the death and surviving deadly traps it would be stuff like shopping for a family of 6 on a budget, working in the service industry without snapping and murdering customers and getting a popular item on Black Friday. I would watch that.
I love this very intensely.
????
HEH! Good idea
Brilliant! Great challenge.
You may be on to something. I would pay good money to watch a billionaire or 100 million dollar trust fund baby try to do THOSE things, LOL. Especially that customer service bit.. hee hee
It’s the shopping on a budget for 6 people I’d like to see… and they have to make savings!!!!!
How do we make this happen?
????!!
My husband would like to add events in baby feeding and nappy changing (with suitable child-imitation robots of course). And not basic nappy changing; advanced nappy changing where the baby is trying to flip over onto his stomach to reach something else while you hold onto his twisting legs trying to apply the nappy cream…
I love this idea ????. Also, of course, it reminds me of Neil Gaiman’s Stardust. But I like your much less violent challenges!
Carolingians
Merovingians (check out Clovis I)
Yorkists
Lancastrians
Borgias
Medicis
Julians (Rome)
…
The list goes on. 🙂
Thank you so much, especially for the news of the poll – what fun!
I’m looking forward to the poll too. This is going to be fun battling it out in the comments. Plus, this is why House Andrew’s is so awesome. We’ll get to buy a book that BDH participated in. Woot! Woot!
+1 ????????????????????????????????
I am so ridiculously excited for the polls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ????????????????
Thank you very much!
Also, I would like to add that this is a magic world. Let’s just roll with it people. ????♀️ ????
Do we think that Kosandion has siblings? So if he hadn’t won the Assassination War there would be an hereditary runner-up?
In your poll, please leave an other category. I like his PR person. 🙂
Definitely! The female werewolf, Karat and even Dina (!) have been put forth so far by the BDH hehe.
I’ve totally imagined the female werewolf crashing the selection and Kosandion becoming smitten. LOL
Please also add the Kolinda sea monster, as Kosadion really likes it.
OTP ????
I’m kinda rooting for Miralit (sp?) … she seems to take an interest in the Sovereign’s well being and is not especially overawed by him.
She could be a contender, but I’m not sure she’d want that particular prize.
I think that Miralit is much much more than she appears. It is well strategized for her to have a different answer that will stand out from the crowd. Her late entrance ensured attention. Like Sean said she’s actually incredibly strong. Caldenia had a private audience with her. I also think that there is much more to the story of Caldenia assassinating her brother. She’s a master strategist. I also think that it could be the entire reason that they wanted to hold this event at *this* particular inn.
Hey Rose,
Sara means Miralit, the part-vampire female guard of Kosandion ????.
You are describing (perfectly!) Lady Wexyn, the Temple of Desire candidate ????
It was my understanding that every Inn on earth had refused. Not that they had asked for a particular Inn. Although I would not be at all surprised to find that Kosandion kidnapped Wilmos to ensure this particular Inn. Officially, though, I think they just wanted an Inn and got a face full of NOPE until Dina needed access to their special gate.
Could be wrong. And I could go look it up. But that’s what I do on the reread, is answer my own questions. I don’t wanna mess that up for myself.
I’ve gone through the same logic chain as you. Tend to agree.
I mean, yes, that was said, but they may have told every inn before they refused about the assassination attempt they know about, possibly from one of the candidates! So while they may have asked for other inns, they may also have been arranging things so they were sure to be refused until they got to Gertrude Hunt. I mean, why are the murder trees even participating in this competition? One reason might be to ensure most inns refuse to host it, until Dina and Sean got desperate enough to say yes.
Exactly. And Kosandion kidnapped Wilmos to get them desperate.
+1 For Miralitt.
Ooh, that poll sounds like a lot of fun, thank you already!
Do you think the results will influence the story, or is your mind already made up on how the selection will end?
House Andrews have addressed this last week 🙂 https://ilona-andrews.com/2022/secret-snippet-questions-and-other-things/
“There is an overall plan but the details get finalized as we are writing. For example, we have three challenges ahead of us. During each challenge, the 3 lowest ranking candidates are eliminated, until we have 3 candidates left for the finale.”
He, true, but I admit I am still curious to know if the poll might change the plans. That would be kind of cool 😉
Knowing how internet polls work, if you advertise that, we’ll get someone named Wifey McWifeFace winning the vote…
Also, even if the candidate changes, that doesn’t necessarily mean the overall aim and drive of the story has to change. It might just need a minor pivot to grease a square peg into a round hole.
I would leave the poof out for the family and go hide in a cupboard while they were distracted.
We all caught covid last week and the little is still home. We are fine, but having covid with two young kids is as delightful as you would think. The little let the dog out into the neighborhood 3 times in the last 3 days. My office window looks out onto a divided 10 lane road. He then opened the unfinished attic space for Suki to explore and try to use her 65 pounds to bust a hole in the ceiling.
They can all have the poof if they just sit and stop causing trouble!
Oh no!
I’m so sorry, I hope you get a moment to breathe and you all recover soon! No more pet escapades!
I am excited about the BDH participation poll! Thanks for setting that up. It will be a lot of fun.
A Neanderthal cousin! Yah, my 23andme says mine has more than 71% of the population.
Ah, the poof. My first “bed” when I moved out of my mother’s house was a bean bag chair and a sleeping bag. Had to save up to buy a real bed for at least 6 months. Memories..
Well met, cousin!
“ You have more Neanderthal DNA than 73% of other customers.”
I was thinking kind of the opposite direction: it’s a little rough on Kosandion to have him marry someone he couldn’t have sex with (if one of the sufficiently non-humanoid candidates won, that is). I mean I’m sure private affairs are as common in the Dominion as they are every other time people are expected to marry for politics instead of love. But still.
I keep imagining Kosandion ultimately marrying the fish, so his kids can be a true part of the sea….
The woof-in-poof looks so very comfy. I smiled at the sleepyhead, thinking of the wolfguard in Ann Bishop’s books about the Others. The wolves were very insulted by the idea of dogs beds until they tried one. After that wolf beds were highly prized.
Love Anne Bishop as an author. Her descriptions make me smile.
You all are the best, kindest, inclusive folks! Thank you for all the cool info!
I know this is going to sound really strange but you (all of you, BDH, IA, Innkeeper…) are my Poof.
Agreed!
Agreed! That’s exactly right, my mental comfy spot!
My 23 & Me says I have 94% more Neanderthal DNA than other customers. ????
High five! Mine too (92%). Apparently that’s why I can’t taste the bitter in greens 😀
That’s a thing?! So cool! Does it only go for greens, or all bitter in food? My partner is a high school teacher and one experiment is letting kids taste water with smaller and smaller doses of quinine in it to see how sensitive and not sensitive different people are to bitter. Results range widely, obviously, but this little tidbit might be fun to mention at that practical ^_^
I also cannot taste quinine! When I was little my parents tried to deter me from sucking my thumb by putting quinine on it, I told them it was yummy, could I have some more ????
As an adult, it just ruins some gin and tonics hehe.
I can taste *some* bitter, like grapefruit pith and the tears of my enemies, for example ☺️
Grapefruit – my folks “surprised” me with that one in a fruit salad when I was around 8 years old, wouldn’t tell me what it was, just “that I should try it, it was fine”. I abhorred it, all that bitterness. Suffice to say I haven’t eaten it since…
But I had no idea that wasn’t the same kind of bitter!
PS no comment on the tears ????????????
As kids we ate ours with a sprinkle of sugar. At some point, we got to liking the flavor by itself and no longer needed the sugar. I think it has more to do with our taste buds changing as we age and also as we get used to more and more flavors. Give it another try, you might be surprised at liking it – or not.
For instance, while I like orange, lemon and lime zest and use them often with various veg, I don’t much care for grapefruit zest. The fruit is no longer too bitter, but the zest still is.
Adore grapefruit!! Even when I was a toddler. My mom put brown sugar on halved ones and put them under the boiler for a few minutes. Yum!!
Pink and red ones are easier to eat without sugar; the white ones are bitter.
Alas, statin medication for cholesterol now prohibits me from all grapefruit….
I don’t drink wine, coffee, or beer because they are all too bitter to me and no amount of additives can change that. ????????♀️????
Need an edit button????????. That should be ‘too’ not ‘to’.
Fixed 🙂
Beer tastes like dirt.
Me too! People don’t understand why I won’t drink anything alcoholic, it all tastes bad to me. I don’t understand why they drink things that are bitter ????
“The tears of my enemies” ????
I love your sense of humor, Mod R!
????
That’s fascinating, that the Neanderthals couldn’t taste bitter. I wonder if that’s part of why they extincted — tasting bitterness is an evolutionary advantage re: things that will poison you or otherwise make you sick.
Cro magnums killed them because they were different. Not much has changed.
The tears of my enemies are so sweet, not sure what you’re talking about. 🙂
Mine cry them bitter ????
Not tasting the quinine is not ruining gin an tonics. I’ve switched mostly to gin and soda, but I had one with tonic the other day. Just as horrible as I remembered.
Heh. I just found an Italian tonic that is made with alternative embitterants (is that a word? it should be!).
Fascinating. I have more than 98% of the people on 23and me. I can taste bitter greens. It tells me the variants I have make me less likely to be afraid of heights and less likely to have a chin dimple.
I don’t mean “bitter greens” as a plant variety, I mean that apparently spinach or broccoli has bitterness for some people. Arugula, green cabbage. That sort of stuff. They just taste bland and vaguely planty to me ????.
I didn’t even know about spinach being bitter until last year ????.
Interesting. Although, I have the (annoying to me) cilantro tastes like soap gene 🙁 I can mange small amounts of cilantro, but the first time I tried pho I gave up. All I tasted was soap. So I don’t bother trying Vietnamese food, which is a shame.
There was a dish I was cooking one day for myself and my husband. I put a minimal amount of cilantro in the base, and then left my husband a bunch that was cut up for himself, since he doesn’t have the soap gene.
You are not alone in that Emmalee. Cilantro tastes like soap to me too in large quantities. Ina Garten also said cilantro tastes like soap to her too. That’s why she uses parsley instead of cilantro in her Tex-Mex dishes. 🙂
The rest of my family (brother and nieces and nephew in particular) yelled at me when I said that in front of them. They don’t have the soap gene.
All of this is interesting. My sister is trying to convince me and my brother to do the test.
I know I dont taste the bitterness either because I had the “icky” stuff put on my thumbs but it didnt bother me one bit. And spinach is bitter to some people??
Hmm might be closer to being convinced
I know ????. That was a mind blowing discovery hehe
I have more Neanderthal DNA than 97% of people on 23&me. I also have the variant being less likely to have a chin dimple!
Its funny that people are hung up on mechanics of using different DNA to have children. Meanwhile we are still trying to dissuade our youngest (8) from his dream of making a super predator animal. He loves Jurassic Park/world movies. But the message that messing with nature is going right over his head.
Looking forward to the poll I have a favourite candidate for spouse
Only 17 years before his brain fully matures. Hang in there.
I’m 41 and still waiting on the real Jurassic World dinosaurs to be cooked up in a lab. Age has nothing to do with that dream! ????
Children are strange. One of mine’s is the same age and their life ambition is to get Elon Musk’s bath tub because they think it’ll be big enough to hold a Narwhal.
My almost 13 year old has been saying same thing since he was that age and is now starting to add extra classes for next year and is loading up on his sciences he can’t wait to make a new Dino!! Besides if Dino part doesn’t workout he’ll have enough knowledge about genes and splicing that may cure a disease so I told him to always keep his cast off research to hand lol.
I absolutely love your multi-species spousal selection. It has made me think of what could happen/what different ways society could move forward, in those types of circumstances.
Thanks for the eye-opening ideas.
Love how the story is developing!
Just curious, did Caldenia rule some part of the Dominion at one time?
I think we need to be a bit patient for the backstory to unveil 🙂
I know, I know, patience is a dirty word for the BDH hehe.
Yes all of it.
Maybe I’m mis-remembering, but don’t some of the non-humanoid species have humanoid candidates? If so, how is their DNA being passed on to an heir?
In A Lab. First to make the humanoid candidate for a non-humanoid species. Secondly unless the species matches Kosandion – unlikely because of the genetic tinkering in previous generations – ALL of the candidates, humanoid or not, will have to have the egg produced, and then grown to birth in a lab.
Hey Jazzlet,
I haven’t yet asked House Andrews about this yet 🙂 , let’s give them a chance to respond first.
It’s not certain at all the humanoid candidates for the non humanoid species are genetically designed in a lab too, for example 🙂
Sorry, biology back ground, so I was assuming they all have to be engineered to a greater or lesser extent. Which isn’t necessarily the case in the Sweep Universe of course, over which our esteemed authors have the power of god.
I am here to say that I love this so much.
So interesting how some readers really get into the nitty gritty of the science/biology of the spousal selection/two alien races producing offspring. Science was never my strong suit in school so whenever the books get technical with science I just assume whatever is written is correct!
As for the variety of sexual partners, I kind of compare it to the Kate Daniels world? We all know Curran had many partners before he met Kate and he had humans, shapeshifters and probably had fun with all type of magical beings before he met the love of his life. Magical beings are not the same as aliens obviously but I see similarities in the concept.
And I totally forgot about the Neanderthal gene thing in 23andme, I forgot my percentage.
I do remember Caldenia said that. I just didn’t interpret that as “the offspring will hatch in a lab outside of a womb”.
I was thinking more along the lines of AI.
Totally did not see this topic coming. Hurts my brain just thinking about it, so I just read and enjoy story.
Love the idea of the poof, but it would be so hard for me to get up after getting out of it. ????
these are directions my mind definitely did not go in, and I’m glad we have HA (and ModR) willing to answer all these detailed questions!
Who cares if offspring is cute or sex is fun. But I have very liberal take on the racial problem, and the most fun part is reading how involved parties made bits and mechanics to match. I’m a doctor don’t blame me.????
I mean, tentacle porn is a thing…
I just want to thank you again for pairing with Graphic Audio. I’ve listened to the whole series with my 12yo, and Sunday we drove at least 3.5 hours and pulled my husband and other kid in. Everybody enjoyed it. We don’t have a lot of shared experiences like this anymore, so sharing Dina and crew with my family was a particularly sweet part of Mother’s Day.
My 12yo has incorporated them into her AUs, and there is no higher praise.
…It won’t be a thing in an Ilona Andrews book 🙂
Phew! It’s not *my* thing, and like I said, I listen with my teens. Wouldn’t be able to hit the fast forward button fast enough. The horror!
Erm, not to give spoilers, but just a heads up that there’s a scene in One Fell Sweep that isn’t exactly family friendly….
+1 for tentacle porn is a thing… I sneezed my tea through my nose laughing.
Oooh! AM I the 47th poster?
As for alien sex with humans, or aliens with other aliens, Larry Niven had a name for it- Rishathra. It appears in several of his stories.
Ok, what is it with the 47th poster? You are now the 3rd of 4th poster talking about it, what joke am I missing 😀 ?
The answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything is 42, so we add 5…
47 is an important number in science fiction. It was brought to Star Trek with a writer (Joe Menosky) who was from Pomona College in Claremont, California. The number has made its way into other science fiction shows. If you are traveling to Pomona College (and the other Claremont Colleges) by using the freeway system, you take exit 47 (Indian Hill) from the San Bernardino freeway. There are other 47 items – the saying carved on one of their arches over an entrance has 47 words. A mathematician at the college has written a proof that every number equals 47, etc. If you Google “Pomona 47” you will get more information than you want about the mystique of the number 47.
Thank you so much for the explanation!
I have to turn in my Star Fleet insignia and go back to the Academy, I never noticed!
P.s. 6 times 9 does equal 42 if you use base 13 rather than base 10.
“I need a metaphorical lounger in my life to comfortably cushion me from weird problems.”
YES. I need this. In my case “weird problems” are human interactions after 2+ years of isolation.
As an introvert with social anxiety part of me wishes the isolation could continue. Minus the death, disease, and economic devistation, of course.
Thank you for your patience with reader questions and comments!
Agreed. Getting used to people again is exhausting! I have made myself a solemn promise to carve out more alone time in the future, obviously I need it… And people telling me “I’m no fun” can stuff it, consistently going beyond my limits won’t make me any more fun! Hang in there!
We can vote!?? Omg let us name the little goober! Fishy McFishface!
Interesting post. I’d read the candidate selection as both a political as well as a genetic process. The idea being to create the best child possible. For instance, if a candidate had the ability to resist poison & that ability could be genetically bestowed upon a child, seems like a good thing given the risk of assassination. Maybe not so good if bestowing the ability led to diminished mental capacity, but presumably an advanced galactic empire would have the technology to ensure the desired result – resistance to poison while retaining optimum mental ability.
You and I had the same understanding of it!
Hang on, are the Dominion voting on characteristics to include in the baby? As influenced by the footage.
Do we get to propose or veto characteristics in a vote?
I vote no bendy necks allowing the baby to bend its head over backwards and speak upside down.
I vote blue gums, and retractable claws
I vote psychic death pew pew pew pew fricking mind lasers.
I don’t know how I vote for extra limbs, I keep thinking of the Sagitar centaur men from He Man. Galloping around on their legs and middle set of limbs
I want to vote on colour, purple babies with that galaxy swirl Kosdanian’s picture has for the win (purple as a healthy colour, other colours are available I’m sure).
Thank you! Clear and concise. Sorry if I come across as a teacher grading a paper
Well, if he picks a murder tree, then they won’t have to worry about firewood. Murder birds might be a problem around about Thanksgiving. The Donkamins might be a fun addition during family reunions, but the Otrakar and the vampires might be a bit of a buzzkill. Literally
That’s why in the last installment read, I mentioned that the Murder Birds, the Murder Trees, and the Donkamins were in the bottom three (that’s what the Star Dominion vote says, not the BDH vote). I wrote that in English football terms, they are about to be relegated. 😀 Then the responses to my post turned into a “let us vote like the Star Dominion people”. I laughed when I saw those posts. 🙂
Thank you, Ilona Andrews for the post.
I Love your lounger. Same thing happened to my new for camping out 100% wool blanket I was given as a Christmas present. It has been permanently appropriated by the canine and feline. I washed it and stored it in camping bin. They opened bin, Titan removed it and aired it by running it around fenced in yard then deposited it on bed where they enjoyed it. Sigh
Wait, *we* get to participate in the spousal selection? So exciting!!
YAY! Watch this space hehe!
With CRISPR the gene splicing is so much easier. My imagination is exploring after reading about the werepigs that have been created and are being bred in America..to supply transplant organs!
I love when you said humans if they ever get into the galaxy will enjoy non human species. Just look at Kirk and Riker in star trek with their alien of the month contest lol.
There is one interesting thought, that if as some postulate, DNA from space started life on earth, it is possible humans and another species, even with such likely divergent evolution, could be compatible.
Rather than life starting on Earth, there is a theory that a life spreads, via comets, disasters, asteroids etc and therefore a lot of the life (although not all) in the galaxy will have similar starts. This makes it more likely that there will be similarities in life found in the galaxy. It is unlikely that life started on Earth. Our Sun isn’t that old compared to other starts, so other planets will have had a good start before our planet even existed. It’s more likely that we inherited some space spore from elsewhere and thus are similar to others that way.
We don’t have anything on earth that could survive the length of journey needed to get between worlds, not even tardigrades, and they are incredibly tough, as well as very cute. Also there is plenty of research now that shows how abiogenisis could have happened here in the time frame available, so the smart money is that earth life did originate here.
The smart money maybe, but that would totally not work for all those Hollywood dollars ????????????
I sniggered, thank you!
Oooooo so excited for the polls!! Can’t wait to participate!
I think the only thing that bothers me about the whole thing right now is Kosandion’s “O woe is me, none of my girlfriends/boyfriends loved me enough to stay and my people want to kill me,” mood. For someone who’s supposed to be related to Caldenia, it comes off as downright whiny.
We’re not really sure how he said it 🙂 . Even Dina says “I had no idea if he was saddened by that, proud of it, or simply resigned to the fact.”
I chose to interpret it as stiff upper lip: “I’ve always known my duty and my preferences take second place to the needs of the Dominion”. The needs, not the wants, mind you 😉 . He is indeed Caldenia’s nephew and knows when to hold opinions in check.
He just sounded matter of fact to me, sort of “It is what it is” as acknowledgement rather than resignation.
+1 ????
I’ve known for most of my life that there are several real stinks that I cannot smell. The best example is that I’ve never smelled a skunk in my life, and believe me, it’s not for lack of opportunity. I can’t smell gas leaks, either.
I have DNA results somewhere that tell me I have between 2 and 3 percent Neanderthal DNA, and some of the people who have that much can’t smell some odors.
I don’t have any problem with any of the proposed mates; though I might have one if I met a few of them in person. I like the story, and spend most Fridays snickering.
I know I’ve said this many times already, but I will pre-order as soon as it’s possible.
Your throne ROCKS. Loungers for the win. I’m sure you would rule wisely from such a comfy throne.
Voting sounds great! I’m afraid that I would be like that portion of the Dominion population that would vote for the Jazz fish because they would be fun. 🙂
Jazz Fish!!! That is now, in my mind, their o-fish-al name. hehe. I’ll see myself out…
A caring and insightful post; thank you. Bringing open understanding into the world is no small thing.
I’m really looking forward to the poll; I think it will be fun. Even more fun than answering will be comparing the answers to the end of the story. 🙂
Something occurred to me while re-reading the chapters posted to date. In “Sweep with Me”, Caldenia mentioned that pausing for rest after periods of stress was the “sole reason” she was still alive. Her time at Gertrude Hunt has always been characterized as retirement, but what if she was … pausing.
Or maybe this interstellar spectacle is just a chance to finish some threads in the grand weave of her life. She seems confident in her ability to exert her will (wiping out the Temple of Desire did not seem like a bluff) beyond the walls of the inn, so some capability remains.
Oooh good thought, PyeCat! For all we know it’s the equivalent of a year sabbatical for her. And I could be wrong but I don’t think anything was ever said about her NOT being able to communicate with whomever she chooses so….
Puffs of smoke just leaked out of my ears as my head slightly exploded. I like your wonders!!! She did pay for a lifetime stay, but that does not necessarily require that she cannot leave of her own volition.
Hah!
I have 55% more Neanderthal DNA than other customers! Eat your hearts out all ye pikers! Finn/Norwegian/Alaska Native. More than a bit of Russian from long ago to give me my last name. My Alaskan grandfather had very unusual deep yet bright ruby/auburn colored hair. Love to you and yours from Alaska!
I suppose I should have said “Native Alaskan” grandfather to make it perfectly clear. Y’all are brave, patient and firm in the best possible way. Kudos.
Oh, boy. Meant “Alaska Native”. There is a difference, I hear.
I like the idea of the lounger, except it looks like my exit process would be rolling out until I landed on the floor, declaring “I meant to do that”, then groaning as I stood up while then declaring “I’m too old for this sh*t”. Do they sell a version with an ejection button? That could be fun.
I am currently writing this comment from my own big purple lounger. My furry princess, Lily, also claims it as her throne when she is upstairs protecting me from all things crafty. ????
One of my favorite military(ish) sci-fi series is Tanya Huff’s Valor series – I love how she created the di’Tayken, who have libidos rivalling even those of adolescent human males and are even less discriminating in their choice of partners. It cracks me up thinking about what a culture shock that would be for “Earthlings.”
Lol, I was also thinking of the di’Taykan!
So funny, so many of your stories involve people of vastly different genetic backgrounds.
Space people would definitely mix and mingle.
I really like the aquatic species intending to teach their child not to pee on the people behind them.
Important life skills.
yep, I had a major chuckle over that one. It’s so true nonetheless.
I love that you are uniquely qualified to answer these questions scientifically.
I especially love that you address each query with a spirit of kindness.
You make this world a better place.
I guess to some this story is an abrupt new foray into science fiction concepts where their regular reading genres wouldn’t delve into this sort of thing, or how to process it ????
I have a Kate question that I’ve had for some time.
Iron and Magic/Hugh’s series originally started as an April fool’s joke and became reality based on reader response. But the plot ended up being integral to Kate 10. So my question is- how much/if any of Final Kate did you have fleshed out before Hugh and how much/if any did the original ending you had in mind change?
I really like your paragraph on why do a spousal selection. Really summarized things.
Yay! Polls! ???? looking forward to voting.????
Polls sound fun. Charlie looks so comfortable.
Wow, didn’t see this post coming.
I guess not reading the comments on the last Chapter that was posted I missed what happened. I usually like to read though them to see what people think, their interesting thoughts, ideas.
Things have just been busy. So the above ‘Stuff’ mentioned in Ilona’s latest posting is just Out-there for me. Never saw it coming. Yes I thought all the different species’ candidates were strange, but it’s SiFi/Fantasy story-telling. Gave it no more thought after reading (on to the next item on that day to do list).
Innkeeper is entertainment for me. Mind-candy. Fascinates me. Some of the things these two (writers) can think up is just mind boggling!
It’s Candy ???? for the Mind y’all..
Yes! This!!
I’m too busy getting wrapped up in the story and accompanying images in enjoyment of the story….
That some readers go so in depth, let’s dissect this is just amazing to me.
It all makes for a fun read though waiting for the next installment.
You should totally check out LoveSac (I am not an affiliate). They come in many sizes and are criminally comfortable. Best part? Covers are machine washable.
I’m just waiting for more Karat. ????
Love the lounger! and the cute lounger! Just finished an interspecies romance called I Married a Lizardman (your perfect mate may not be what you expected; he is a lizardman, haha). They solved all the science by saying the lizardman genes were dominant. End of.
Thank you for you … for you both.. all…
Yay Poll voting!
Boo small minds.
TY for addressing the hard stuff so politely.
I don’t know why this post makes me think of Babylon 5, where Vir is asking Ivanova about “what women like” and he ends up explaining his species mating rituals to an increasingly uncomfortable Ivanova.
I love Babylon 5.
Oh yeah I remember that episode. I couldn’t stop laughing at both of them. I am so glad I held on to the all the Babylon 5 CDs. I could not watch them for the longest time after my brother and mom died. All three of us would watch the show together.
I liked poof better. Loungers have feet. Perhaps you guys can invent a new term for this.
You know perfectly well that if you try for that lounger, you’ll probably have to share with a furry of some sort. But that’s what Calvin called “fuzz therapy” and is quite beneficial. ????
I don’t get that in a sci fi/fantasy setting? Amongst a sophisticated species (I didn’t think Caldenia or Kosandion were ‘pure’ anyway), you would mix and have a variety of partners. You have much of the universe to ‘play’ with. And it is fiction.
Even politically it makes sense to widen your ruling base to better reflect the populous you govern/trade with.
Or is that just me?
Caldeina comments in a previous part (I can’t remember if it’s earlier in this book or a previous one) about how proud she is by the number of other species included in her genetics.
I am sooooo very jealous of that pup! I want to be snuggled in the lounger lol
That lounger looks sooo comfy! And I had wondered why Kosandion was seeking a mate outside of his race, but it makes sense to sire an heir that has a wider worldview, based on both sets of parents.
I look forward to the polls!
The genetic diversity benefits are also not to be sniffed at ????
Caldenia bared her sharp teeth. “I carry the genetic roots of seven species in my body thanks to some long-term planning by my ancestors. They have served me very well.””
from Chapter 6 part 2 https://ilona-andrews.com/2022/chapter-6-part-2-2/
So… I have been genuinely considering the purchase of a Costco poof. Are they actually comfortable for humans? (I’ve heard they also weigh a ton, which is perhaps putting a dent in my possible plans to move it back and forth between the kids room and my office so that my husband can hang with me while I am doing late-night work…)
Is that a FRENCHIE caught at rest in the lounger? (I was introduced to the breed fairly recently and am quite captivated by the breed. Little bowling balls of chaos, with only two speeds, dead stop and plaid.)
Oops wrong image, sorry
Charlie Tubbins is indeed a Frenchie.
I can take care of that image for you ????
Lois McMaster Bujold’s Cetagandans show what can be done with gene splicing. The ruling class had an entire organization dedicated to examining genes to find useful combinations and then incorporating them into the genome. I recommend her book Cetaganda for an in depth look. Also young Miles in love!
And don’t forget the uterine replicators!
Agreed, and even the really old school Vor were taking advantage of “gene cleaning “ to lose known detrimental mutations.
The last book in that series had Miles’ mother encouraging her deceased husband’s lover of 30 years to have sons using the husband’s and male lover’s DNA and her enucleated ova.
Jackson’s Whole is much more fun to read about than I imagine it would be safe to visit.
Oh I love the idea of the poll! How fun!!!
Love the extra details! TYVM ????
Some people are way to invested to be upset about how an alien baby will be created.
And harmony. The spousal candidate must be committed to Harmony 🙂
I absolutely love the idea of the poll and letting us contribute. Thank you for that.
Thanks for the scientific update – and a great choice of non-human Love Interest for Kirk (Shame what happened to her in that episode!)
Mind you, The Orville beats ST in those respects – there’s a bit of non-humanoid/human sex in one of the episodes if I remember correctly.
I want that chair. So bad.
Also enjoying the story!
Years ago, my husband and I moved into a new apartment from his studio apartment*. We bought almost entirely new furniture, but we were on a budget, so a lot came from IKEA. We put together what was planned to be his comfy chair, and placed it in the living room area. Then we put together the dining room table.
By the time we returned to the chair, m0053 (my boy cat) had claimed it. It was his primary sleeping chair. My husband never once sat in it, and the one time I did, m0053 heard the creak from two rooms over in one of his secondary sleeping chairs, ran into the living room, and started crying and swatting at me. After a stunned moment, we figured out why. I stood up and he immediately jumped in to protect his chair. This picture reminds me of that.
____
*when we were discussing whether I should move to Austria or he should move to the US for us to marry, we had this conversation:
Me: I absolutely love you enough to cross the Atlantic for you. But I don’t think I can live with ANYONE in a studio apartment.
Now-husband: until you get a job, you’ll have 8 to 10 hours a day alone. And when you get a job, we can move.
Me: you make a strong argument.
Right on, Ilona❣️Star Trek did inter-species crew members, etc. as a norm for decades. Part of the reason was to make inter-racial families optically more normal. The more authors treat characters as just that — characters with no extra judgement layered on, the more we will hopefully treat everyone without that extra layer of judgement.
A big rule in Christianity is, “Judge not, Lest ye be judged.” I never saw any clarifications noted.
And what shocked people was not Kirk and the green girl, but the first interracial kiss on television.
All I could see/hear at the back of my mind reading this post was Captain Jack Harkness smiling wide and staring at Konsandian and saying “Hello! I’m Captain Jack Harkness.”
Along with David Tennants Doctor snarking “Stop that!”
LOL
@Mary Beth, thank you for that mental image! I needed a giggle today. 😉
Bahahaha!!!! A thousand times YES!
Bwahahahaaa.
Can’t have too many images of Captain Jack Harkness!
Thanks for making me laugh. And now I have that movie in my head! Go Jack Go!!
same
Aww!
I’d have to have one of those up on a platform or I’d never be able to get out of it.
I will own a moment of, “Marry a fish? How would….never mind, not my business.”With the wide ranging contestants in “The bachelor house Andrews style” I expected a bit of tech to get to the next generation. The Neanderthal news tossed me, but the Jurassic Park date makes me want to serve you bad coffee. That blow is going to hurt for a bit. 30 years. ouch ouch ouch.
Oh well
Have a good day of wording.
Do you ever get to use the lounger!?! Or is it pet-throne? ????????
Greets from switzerland in lovely spring !
Inga
Personally, I have always wondered about Caldenia’s genetic mix. The descriptions of her teeth, in particular, and adventurous dietary preferences over the course of the series strike me as decidedly not human.
Guess I’m just weird because none of the concerns mentioned in today’s post (5/10/2022) bother me at all. Me? I just enjoy the story and am ever so grateful to have a new one. How aliens select a spouse or have children is their problem, not mine. My task is just to read and enjoy an HA story. And I do!!
My thoughts exactly.
Ditto! It’s scifi/fantasy/romance/pick your genre. I love all the possibilities, which is why I read the stuff.
When you said lounger, this is what I think: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/furniture/22755933/best-zero-gravity-chair
I have one and thoroughly enjoy using it.
When it comes time for the polls, I’ll be in the group that says:
“They’re bright and colorful, and a certain segment of the population thinks it would be funny if you married a fish.”
hehe, I immediately thought about that one, too.
I have always loved fish.
You will forever be fighting for that lounger space with pets. You can only hope they love you enough to share it with you, probably simultaneously so you can also pet them. Many many eons ago, I had a bean bag in college that I rarely got to use since my dachshund didn’t like to share. Your lounger is so much prettier! If I had space, I might get one, but I don’t. Probably the piano I don’t use could be sacrificed, hmmm.
SPOUSE POLLS!!! I’m so excited about this idea, I can’t express it. This will be fun! Many thanks to whomever expressed the question, as I don’t have the imagination to do so myself.
Oohh…BDH voting in spousal selection. That sounds like fun
People are so dang… people-y.
My pug would L.O.V.E. that lounger. As would I.
*off to buy us a lounger*
I’m going to have to review the candidates! Very excited to have a vote.
We might need a link for the lounger. It looks delightfully comfy.
Guess I’m glad I don’t read the comments…even when I’m making one.
I’m over here thinking “Karat is either gonna help Dina and Sean protect Kosandion from assassins and/or be the surprise bride.
nah, I really can’t see Karat leaving House Krahr, even though I have already shipped her with Dagorkun in a previous post. Man, I do want to see who she finally falls for, however. That could be a fun story
Bahahahahahahah
so sorry to find it funny but i do..we are all humans
we are all supposted to have what? – like 75% JUNK dna..stuff they just haven’t fingured out yet.. now wouldn’t it be something to see where THAT comes from..lol
Ilona i hope you find a nice lounger of some type that the critters will let you have
where you can enjoy reading your favorite authors
back to the garden for me.. i’m planting some peas and carrots i don’t have the genetics on oh yeah and some onions that are labeled walla walla named for a place :- )))))
“This is not a new concept”
Elrond Half-Elven
Aragorn & Arwen’s children
Tanis (Dragonlance)
Fluer Delacour (part-veela; HP)
Hagrid & Madam Maxime (half-giants)
any of a host of half-elves, half-orcs, half-dragons, part-vampires, vampire-werewolves, and other combos in the F/UF genres.
I know this isn’t really the spot for this comment but I just wanted to thank HA. I have been having a hard month (And its only the 10th) and just finished rereading Kate Daniel for the millionth time and just want to thank HA for such a wonderful world that I can read again and again. I love that every time I reread the series I find some little gems that I somehow missed before, some foreshadowing that changes the way I see things, or world building titbit. Thank you HA for everything you write. I read it all and you are always on preorder but especially thank you for giving me wonderful worlds I can escape to when life is just too much.
So happy you found a relief in the books! I wish you a May that picks up in the second half! ????
Many years ago I read a book about the making of the original Star Trek series. In it the “green lady” pictured was mentioned. It as said that they made her green, filmed the scene, and sent the file to the people who do the first past of cleaning it up for the editors. The gentleman responsible felt horrible that the poor actress appeared to be green in the film so he cleaned it to return her to normal skin tones. The producers saw the result and thought somehow the film had washed out the makeup. They died her a darker green and filmed it again. This happened a couple of times until the two groups got together and the film cleaners learned that she was supposed to be green.
Now I have decided that I have missed something because I expected you to decide on the bride and me to decide you are the genus I love. I feel confused but I have been feeling confused a lot lately so no biggie.
If you want to sit in your poof chair, I am sure the dogs and cats will share.
Hey Teresa,
The BDH vote is mostly a fun thing for the BDH, it will not “decide who the bride is” 😉
As Ilona says, there will be a vote before and after the challenges and people will be able to compare their opinions ????
Yes! I knew we’d get a chance to play “Dominion citizen” – can’t wait for the voting!
I will definitely participate. This will be fun.
Ooooh, I love my author lords! I can vote too!! Love it. And we’ll see how my rankings change with challenges. My top picks are: the ..oh, wait. I need that list again, LOL…. but definitely not going with the Otrakar, Vampire, Dushegubs or the Don’t Come Ins. Oomboles are nice though, the Uma indigo (?) lady, the Philosopher Guy (my names list, I’ve lost my names list again, drat).. you get the picture. It will be fun 🙂 It will be comparative and it will be competitive and there may be a wee spot of contention as well (we are speaking here of the BDH love of conspiracies and plot twists after all.) I look forward to this!
More than 43%? I can’t get in a screenshot, but I have more than 84% of their customers. Interspecies breeding? Mr. Spock comes to my mind.
Interesting commentary
Hummmm
In the books it was explained. It’s more interesting that K that an aunt! More than one child did they have other parents . It’s every strange and different that’s why it’s so cool.
That bean bag looks comfy! And yay, I can’t wait to vote in the polls!
I SERIOUSLY see Caldenia ending up having done something altruistic for her nephew. I don’t know why I think this, but I do. She chose to kill her brother & go into exile based on love for her nephew and her ability to see & understand the long game and strategic advantages of removing whatever threat her brother presented.
Hmmm…..?
How do you explain the part that she ruled the Dominion?
Star Trek characters that come to mind first: Spock, B’Lanna Torres, Deanna Troi.
Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World”
Ursula K. LeGuin’s “Left Hand of Darkness”
Undergrad classes in cultural anthropology and biblical archeology were fascinating, but going any farther would have necessitated grad school, and I was DONE with school at the time. But I always have to read any articles in anthro/archeo that come up on the Google feed!
Love the picture of Charlie Tubbins on the lounger. Bet he’d be willing to share with Mama to get a snuggle!!
Hi,
I am not sure why there were all those questions.
I read the chapters and it was clearly explained that ;
The dominion people feel like the small dominion dna is stronger than everything else so there is no true race issue, also
It was clear in the explanation of the spousal selections that dna would be combined in a non physical sense way (read between the lines:lab), also and subsequently the mechanics of all this would be space science magic that may be explained in a future chapter.
I wanted to make this clear that I did see it in the chapters provided in defense of IA.
I mean, it’s interesting to me that there are the species that can manipulate their genes so that the phenotype is humanoid but that they are able to keep enough of the genotype that they feel like that candidate is still representing them. But I don’t feel like that question keeps me from moving forwards in the story.
I’m not sure how you make something more clear or make certain explanations stand out more so people remember them.
It will be very different when people are holding the book and they read the explanation half an hour before it comes into play – rather than 4-5 weeks ago, as it happens in the serialised format ☺️
I’m happy just to be reading your work! When it was speculated how Mr Spock was born, because Vulcans’ gestation period is longer than his Human mother, it was put forth that his mother carried him for 7 months, then he was placed in a mechanical “womb”(for all intents and purposes) for 3 months, then transferred back to his mother’s womb for the last month of development.
I haven’t read the comments yet but am I the only one that thinks the Spousal Genetics Search Show ignores one very important fact: genetics isn’t everything? I know that picking and choosing DNA is excellent as a basis but isn’t it also very important how one raises the “result”. So will there also be the “Most Excellent Raising Parent Search Show”?
Sorry. I just had to go there.
p.s. would Caldenia be OK as long as she was tempered by some sort of Teddy-type bear?
p.p.s. I am of the view that Caldenia didn’t so in her brother for no reason. I think she felt her nephew would make a better ruler bc his parent/her brother was worse. Although, considering what Caldenia thinks is OK, the brother had to have been REALLY bad?
“…DO in her brother….”
(Too bad we can’t edit our posts)
I think you also rushed a little bit through the text of the blog article too hehe ????
“because bringing a child into the world is just the beginning. A child must be nurtured, loved, cherished, and educated. They will learn things particular to each parent’s culture, they will see two different ways of dealing with problems, and they will also learn to navigate the world where there are multiple authority figures, which will hopefully benefit them as the next Sovereign of the Dominion.”
So far we only had the candidate presentation and if you go refresh your memory with chapters 11 Part 2 and following, you will see it was all about how each of the candidates will see fit to raise the offspring- key word “harmony”!
” “Bringing a child into this universe is a grave and sacred task. A parent’s obligation is far deeper than a simple contribution of genetic material. One must guide, educate, and love one’s offspring, putting their needs above one’s own. That is why the candidate who will become my spouse will be required to reside within the Dominion for a period of no less than twenty-five Dominion years. In recognition of this significant commitment, the Dominion will honor one request from the spouse or their sponsors.”
from https://ilona-andrews.com/2022/chapter-11-part-1/
The spousal selection *is already* the Most Excellent Parent Search Show!
Thx. Need to slow down when I read
Hello, my fellow Neanderthal lite! It’s a kind of weird thing to find out, though.
Oh I like the idea of voting! Thank you for the weekly installments and the chance to participate in it.
Just read all the chapters again. Am overwhelmed by the genius of our Beloved Authors. And amazed by the many and various conspiracy theories of the BDH. I’m happy simply to retain what I read for more than, well, a few minutes some times. I’ll gladly hand over my moolah for the Kindle version so I can take notes right in the text! Thanks for the fun stuff like the poll, and thanks for giving us so many years of joy reading your various series. Hope all is well with HA ❤️
I am amazed and appalled- we’re not even there and someone is trying to dictate how an alien species gets to reproduce??? No wonder there’s that “QUARANTINE,HAZARD DONT MAKE CONTACT” sign out past Pluto. ???? lol
Careful of the doggy hairs on the lounger!
My lounger is a garnet-colored velvet chair from the 80’s. It rocks and is one of the few chairs I’ve found with a 17″ seat height for my short short legs. Currently there is a cat on it.
I hope you enjoy your lounger
Eh, i think they were more comments about species compatability, not race (though I did not see them). And Caldenia explained the melding of DNA earlier in the serial, so I am not sure where the confusion is there. Plus Helen is half Human Half Vampire, i would hope no hate is aimed her way because of it.
Go relax, sip tea, pet fuzzbutts (maybe one will willingly share the coveted nap spot)
The comments specifically addressed the concept of race, DNA being true to race and racial purity ????
Sarek of Vulcan and his wife Amanda Grayson, Spock’s parents, appear in “Journey to Babel” [Star Trek, 1967]. Sarek, as the name says, is a vulcan and Amanda is a human from Earth…
If you really want a trip in the Wayback Machine, set it for May 1913. Your looking for the serialization of “Gods of Mars” by Edgar Rice Burroughs which introduces Carthoris, John Carter and Dejah Thoris’ son. Carter was a Confederate officer who arrives on Mars (somehow – astral projection, maybe) and marries Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium. Now the peoples of Mars, while appearing as standard humans, share a characteristic with virtually all other martian life – they lay eggs. But John and Dejah still manage to have two children.
Even JRR Tolkien had half-elves…
These types of relationships are NOT NEW in Science Fiction / Fantasy.
Please do not berate the Authors for doing something that your great-grandparents, grand parents, and parents read and/or watched and didn’t feel the need to complain about.
uuuu, let’s vote :)))
The most skillful piece of writing on a difficulty topic that I’ve seen anywhere in a while – nice to read, thank you. And adored the Green Love Interest photo – such beautiful feet!
Thanks for keeping it clean- i greatly enjoy reading your blogs because of their open and fun nature. Keep on keeping on;)
Tony Shalhoub’s character on Galaxy Quest!????. My favorite scene!
I can’t wait to vote! so excited that we get a chance to participate in the story (even if it is indirectly).
So excited to vote in the The Bachelor – Innkeeper edition!! I suspect our votes will be similar to the Dominion citizens – we will have our little biases and will also be favoring the more entertaining candidates! 🙂
I am so curious about why Her Grace killed her brother. Money? Power? Revenge? She is ruthless but maybe she did it because her Nephew was a better ruler? I can’t wait to find out.
P.S. I would love to see an offspring of the fish species. They need to have better traveling options, they are so unsafe when they travel. I loved reading about the species that was persecuted in the earlier Sweep novels, they sounded magnificent, beautiful and kind, I am so glad they had a happy ending.
biology….and Harmony!
Yes! #LadyWexyn4Lyf
Darwin’s survival of the fittest at its finest, with selective evolutionary traits that bring out the highest survival rate.
Question(s): does Caldenia and her brother share the same parents? Or separate donors?
Funny how both of my parents share a higher DNA percentage than other 23&me customers (90-91%), while I have a 67%.
Thank you for addressing the “issues” AND putting a stop to it. I don’t read all of the comment section but it’s amazing how concern people can be especially on what type of people are and how sexual partner should be. And it’s not even their life.. -_-
I basically just read the story and enjoy it to the fullest >.<
Okay. Back to reading Kate Daniels, again. I just miss her so much
Lots of love from Malaysia
Neighbor! Thailand here.
First I am a wee bit amazed by people who get so worked up by this topic that the authors had to post to explain how this would work and that they are bothered by FICTION.
Second. It’s not racist it’s specist.
Hi Erik,
The comments the post refers to specifically mentioned race, race identity between offspring and “DNA staying true to race”. ???? It is both, and we would like none, please.
Yay. I am looking forward to the pull. I am rooting for the fish. Reason exactly like those population. I am pleased my candidate do so well!
The lounger is a goner. Pet has now got ‘dominion’ over it, LOL. I had a bean bag many many years ago. Granted by Santa as a gift for ME. The parental units made a mistake. There was only one, with my other sibs jealous of me. Who got the bean bag chair in the end? Well, actually, the cat. Napoleon (yes, we named our cat that) was the general of the bean bag. You did NOT get to use said seat, since 85 percent of the time you tried? It was occupado by.. yes, the cat. Not to say we didn’t have a few battles over who got the bean bag, but…. in the end? The cat won.
I vote for Cyanide of the Higgra.
Hi Gail,
Please vote in the poll, not in the comments ????
Oooh. I wanna do the Neanderthal test as well – just wished they’d also include any Denisovan dna. I would be first in line for an interstellar love interest btw, haha. (I’m into pointy-eared Vulcans and Romulans)