Books of the Raksura: Difference between revisions

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The [[Books of the Raksura]] are a fantasy series by Martha Wells (website [http://www.marthawells.com/default.htm here]). In the Three Worlds, there are perhaps hundreds of wildly diverse humanoid species -- but Moon has spent most of his life thinking he's the [[Last of His Kind|only one of his kind]]. And unfortunately Moon, who is a shapeshifter, just happens to resemble (in one of his two forms) the most rapacious and vicious predators on the planet: the Fell. Moon [[I Just Want to Have Friends|just wants a place to belong]], but he must constantly guard against others learning of his secret. When he finally meets a member of his own kind, a whole new set of adventures begin for him, and he faces his biggest challenge of all: fitting in.

 

 

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* [[Ancient Artifact]]: Essentially the whole of the Three Worlds, which is littered with the ruins of extinct empires and species.

* [[Bee People]]: The Raksuran social structure includes two breeds (winged Aeriat and wingless Arbora), and several castes within each breed, all ruled by a powerful queen. Moon is a consort, the only male who can breed with a queen to produce children, which makes for some interesting gender dynamics given that the queens are bigger, stronger, and decidedly aggressive.

* [[Our Dragons Are Different]]: The Raksuras' scarier forms, especially those of the Aeriat, are basically humanoid dragons: scales, wings, tails, claws, and they have a taste for [[Treasure Room|shiny things.]] They're omnivores and not carnivores, and they don't breathe fire. No need, since as s/he gets older an Aeriat becomes a [[Giant Flyer]].

* [[Monster Progenitor]]: Literally in the case of both Fell progenitors and Raksuran queens. {{spoiler|And especially Ranea, who's both, and who's been laying waste to the Three Worlds just to get her hands on Moon, whom she wants as a(n unwilling) mate.}} Fell progenitors are likely also [[Mother of a Thousand Young|Mothers of a Thousand Young]], because they're the only female Fell and yet somehow give birth to giant kethel, rulers and other progenitors, and numerous swarms of dakti.

* [[Magic Tool]]: Literal; mentors create light by infusing magic into inanimate objects, like rocks and shells. Other races in the Three Worlds use various created and found magical tools, such as creating flying ships from pieces of flying islands.

* [[Kryptonite Factor]]: The poison used on Moon [[Chekhov's Gun|at the beginning of the first book]], which "outs" him as a shapeshifter. {{spoiler|It turns out to be deadly to Fell.}}

* [[Dark and Troubled Past]]: Moon is suspicious of the Raksura because he's tried before to find his people, {{spoiler|which led him into the clutches of a Fell ruler, who raped him.}} Although this incident clearly scarred him, [[Don't You Dare Pity Me!|Moon doesn't want sympathy.]]

* [[Double Consciousness]]: Moon has learned to fit in, more or less, among groundlings. It's his own people who confuse him badly.

* [[The Exile]]: Moon's big problem among the Raksura is that he's considered a "solitary" -- a Raksura without family ties or a court. Solitary Raksura are treated much like solitary members of any pack species -- [[Loners Are Freaks|barely tolerated, rarely adopted, usually not highly-ranked.]]

* [[Guttural Growler]]: All the Raksura.

* [[Jerkass]]: Pearl, who seems to delight in pissing off everyone around her.

* [[Menacing Stroll]]: Most Aeriat females, and {{spoiler|Ranea, the half-Fell half-Raksuran queen.}}

* [[My Instincts Are Showing]]: Moon doesn't know much about proper Raksuran behavior, but fortunately much of it is rooted in predatory dominance behavior.

* Bratty Half-Pint: Frost, the fledgling queen, and leader of the [[Heartwarming Orphan|Sky Copper orphans.]]

* [[Seers]]: The mentor caste of the Arbora.

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[[Category:Fantasy Literature]]