Re: Civilization without fire

On Tue, 28 Dec 1999, Padraic Brown wrote:

> There are plenty of materials intelligent octopodes/i/uses (we are
> still talking about them, yes?) could use to construct their
> infrastructure.  Stone, of course, would be usable; mud (adobe), but
> couldn't be dried; and rope.  Modern octopusses could make use of all
> the metal and wood that our shipping industry drops on their heads
> from time to time.
Hmm, that would create some interesting hierarchal issues.  I might use
that if I ever get around to writing my book about the Hataso.

For example, an octopoidal race would quickly see benefits to fire as a
technology, and begin designing ways to employ it.

My limited science is showing: can octopodes survive for any time out of
water?  They might seek dry land for the construction of fire.  Also,
aren't there some chemical reactions that combust in the absence of
atmospheric oxygen -- like peroxide and gasoline?  They might not discover
fire themselves, but once exposed to it they're bound to find ways to use
it.

Shit, that's *another* alien langauge.  Perhaps color-based or tactile or
a mixture of the two.

--Pat