“Oh, hey, H.T.-analogue. By the way: the humans’ ancestors extincted a species that was about six times as scary as you are, and they did it with pointy sticks. Also: Tip has a gun, and it’s probably pointed at an area you’d miss, once it’s gone.”
Yep. Humans vs Mammoths? Had that fight. Humans vs Cave Bears? Yep. Humans vs Dinosaurs? Actually yes (the Moa of Indonesia, I’m with the ones who say dinosaurs never really went extinct).
That said, the real reason we won was because most animals can’t think on the same level we can or understand technology. HT does not suffer from this deficiency.
Neither did the Kzinti. It did not go well for them anyway. 🙂
Mind you, the Centrans of Christopher Anvil’s “Pandora’s Planet” did fare a lot better in the long run. But it’s notable that they approached humans with a slightly better attitude then H.T. Analogue is showing here as well. (Kzin-style =^_^=)
You don’t even need to really be able to use it, you just need to know what it is. A tiger that understands, for example, what the drivers are doing on a tiger hunt and that he can be hurt from an arbitrary distance away will behave very differently and be much more dangerous.
Some technology can be used without thumbs. It’s the construction of the technology that is difficult without thumbs. I had a cat who figured out how to play back messages from an answering machine with simple paw dexterity. You could hook the pin on a hand grenade with claws, and then bat it toward your target, if you’re tiger-sized. On the other hand, you probably couldn’t fire a handgun with a tiger’s paws. So, it depends on which technology.
H.T. is sporting the slightly longer over-the-eye line that sometimes reads as “lady eyelashes” on Sweetheart and the lady bear from the Transgenic League. But I’ve never checked that it *never* appears on the dude non-anthropomorphic transgenics (or even on H.T., in his previous appearances).
I think so too. And it occurs to me that the parasite that caused women to kill men would work even more spectacularly on a female tiger than on a woman (assuming it can cross species), in which case atl!HT is stuffed for mates. This may be why they are trying to convert the kiddies rather than just eating them – they need males!
Five points! Also, I missed what should have been the second most obvious reference. HT has always had heavy Magneto parallels, and now he’s turning the normals into mutants.
This wrinkle was to no-one’s surprise. Dr. Moreau’s favorite son was born to slash his way to the top. I’m just surprised he’s creating transgenic humans to compete with his current brothers and sisters.
Given that both heaven and hell kicked them out, and Mel said that whatever happens they’re in it together, I’d say her part of the plague ended with suicide 🙁 (At least if they’re telling that kind of story). The question is whether she did it right away or waited to see how many others she could kill too.
I don’t think Mel killed anyone she didn’t want to she has years of controlling rage. Same with Dave and Helen it would be pretty hard to make a notable increase in there rage.
Having studied chemistry and having read the A1 sauce label, yes, I do, and very quickly.
For the British among you, do the same with your HP sauce, and everyone will be much happier. Fermentation may produce interesting beverages, but it is not always your friend.
Of course he’s inviting them to cook! What did you think, he’s inviting them to (be) dinner?
Doubtless he merely wants to Serve Man. ^_^
Probably even has a book all about how.
Up to forty of them!
A bit presumptuous to assume the guests have to do the cooking. And that you get to dictate the menu.
“Feed me or I’ll eat you!”
Also, they’re not guests, they’re “tourists”. There is a difference
A very important difference yes.
I really want to see Unity turn H.T.’s smarmy striped butt into a new hat.
“Oh, hey, H.T.-analogue. By the way: the humans’ ancestors extincted a species that was about six times as scary as you are, and they did it with pointy sticks. Also: Tip has a gun, and it’s probably pointed at an area you’d miss, once it’s gone.”
Yep. Humans vs Mammoths? Had that fight. Humans vs Cave Bears? Yep. Humans vs Dinosaurs? Actually yes (the Moa of Indonesia, I’m with the ones who say dinosaurs never really went extinct).
That said, the real reason we won was because most animals can’t think on the same level we can or understand technology. HT does not suffer from this deficiency.
Neither did the Kzinti. It did not go well for them anyway. 🙂
Mind you, the Centrans of Christopher Anvil’s “Pandora’s Planet” did fare a lot better in the long run. But it’s notable that they approached humans with a slightly better attitude then H.T. Analogue is showing here as well. (Kzin-style =^_^=)
The reveal of the *spoilers* doing to the average humans exactly what the humans were doing to the average *spoilers* was kinda masterful.
I don’t think H.T.’s that kind of chessmaster, though. Hunger never makes for particularly long-term plans…
I *was* thinking of this passage from the Ringworld Engineers, in fact:
“Louis had a tyro’s grasp of the Hero’s Tongue. He understood when the kzin kitten looked up at its parent and asked, “Is it good to eat?”
“The adult’s eyes met Louis’s eyes. Louis let his smile widen to show the teeth.
“The adult said, “No.””
Yes, but he still doesn’t have thumbs. It’s rather hard to actually use technology without them.
You don’t even need to really be able to use it, you just need to know what it is. A tiger that understands, for example, what the drivers are doing on a tiger hunt and that he can be hurt from an arbitrary distance away will behave very differently and be much more dangerous.
Unlike HT, here, who is well within effective lethal range.
Some technology can be used without thumbs. It’s the construction of the technology that is difficult without thumbs. I had a cat who figured out how to play back messages from an answering machine with simple paw dexterity. You could hook the pin on a hand grenade with claws, and then bat it toward your target, if you’re tiger-sized. On the other hand, you probably couldn’t fire a handgun with a tiger’s paws. So, it depends on which technology.
Dinosaurs haven’t gone extinct. Chickens are still around.
Mind you, Humans vs Charnia? We don’t talk about that. There’s a reason the Precambrian is still off-limits. The cushions! the terrible cushions!
Well of course dinosaurs never really went extinct. They’re just much smaller, and have feathers now. 🙂
(Or maybe they had feathers back then, too.)
Just look at the history of Australian fauna. Most of the really nasty stuff vanishes from the fossil record right around the time humans show up.
Is that a female H.T. or am I just projecting gender signifiers?
Well, if alt!Tip can be a girl, why can’t alt!HT?
H.T. is sporting the slightly longer over-the-eye line that sometimes reads as “lady eyelashes” on Sweetheart and the lady bear from the Transgenic League. But I’ve never checked that it *never* appears on the dude non-anthropomorphic transgenics (or even on H.T., in his previous appearances).
I read your comment with a fashion show announcer’s voice
I literally laughed out loud
I’m thinking gender flip, too. I wonder if she’ll be named “T.H.”?
I think so too. And it occurs to me that the parasite that caused women to kill men would work even more spectacularly on a female tiger than on a woman (assuming it can cross species), in which case atl!HT is stuffed for mates. This may be why they are trying to convert the kiddies rather than just eating them – they need males!
Going by the narrower chin and muzzle, and the slightly reduced brow, I’m going with this being a female version of H.T.
Have we ever found what H.T. stands for?
Homicidal Tiger?
Hungry Tiger, from the Oz books.
That’s the reference but I doubt that’s the in-universe answer.
Question: what is A-1?
A brand of steak sauce.
Correction: THE brand of steak sauce.
Eh, i prefer Heinz 57 myself, but I’ll give A1 the credit for having been around longer
It’s like H&P Brown Sauce, but a bit blander. Yes, did a side-by-side.
Ah, that would explain that. Thank you!
H.T. I knew it!
Five points! Also, I missed what should have been the second most obvious reference. HT has always had heavy Magneto parallels, and now he’s turning the normals into mutants.
This wrinkle was to no-one’s surprise. Dr. Moreau’s favorite son was born to slash his way to the top. I’m just surprised he’s creating transgenic humans to compete with his current brothers and sisters.
So I guess Dave *didn’t* re-fill the swimming pool.
why
I wonder if caliban had anything to do with the barista takeover…… Wait what happened to Mell? This apocalypse can only get better!
Considering that the virus probably caused Mell to kill Caliban, I think Mell isn’t in the best of mental states right now.
If Mell did kill Caliban, would he stay dead? I seem to remember both Heaven and Hell kicked them out.
Given that both heaven and hell kicked them out, and Mel said that whatever happens they’re in it together, I’d say her part of the plague ended with suicide 🙁 (At least if they’re telling that kind of story). The question is whether she did it right away or waited to see how many others she could kill too.
I don’t think Mel killed anyone she didn’t want to she has years of controlling rage. Same with Dave and Helen it would be pretty hard to make a notable increase in there rage.
Did nobody else notice that H.T. is carrying (or wearing as a necklace?) a purple gerbil? “But which is to be the master, that is the question…”
Probably his badge of authority.
aw come on, everyone knows that’s not how shaenon draws geribls!
Or is that a stuffed Alt!Artie around his/her neck?
Not gerbil. Is hamster.
actually, given the shape, and the stripes, it’s a small pink-purple stuffed tiger..
Interesting. It reminds me a lot of a tiger keychain I used to have.
Is one of the kids waving a chainsaw around?
Yep – children playing with chainsaws. What could possibly go wrong!?
I hope Unity’s A-1 bottle is new. “Refrigerate after opening.”
Does anyone actually do that?
Having studied chemistry and having read the A1 sauce label, yes, I do, and very quickly.
For the British among you, do the same with your HP sauce, and everyone will be much happier. Fermentation may produce interesting beverages, but it is not always your friend.
I vote ‘female’ too. >.>