Jonathan Palfrey
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
It's occurred to me that, when Penric stays anywhere for a while, there may be a significant decrease in the local population of bugs and vermin. I'm no ecologist, but I've heard about the dramatic and unexpected consequences of reintroducing wolves into the Yellowstone National Park; perhaps wiping out pests could have other unexpected ecological consequences. Is this an interesting thought?
Lois McMaster Bujold
It is, but Penric is only one dude. And sorcerers generally are rather thin on the ground. I don't think the kinds of flies and fleas and mosquitoes and ticks that bite people are in any more danger of magical eradication than whatever dent humans have made in their populations after centuries of trying in non-magical ways. (I.e., none.) Cockroaches ditto.
Though if anything, magical eradication might be better for the ecology because it could be far more selective.
There are also lots of plant and animal diseases and pests of interest, glancingly touched on in the most recent tale.
Ta, L.
It is, but Penric is only one dude. And sorcerers generally are rather thin on the ground. I don't think the kinds of flies and fleas and mosquitoes and ticks that bite people are in any more danger of magical eradication than whatever dent humans have made in their populations after centuries of trying in non-magical ways. (I.e., none.) Cockroaches ditto.
Though if anything, magical eradication might be better for the ecology because it could be far more selective.
There are also lots of plant and animal diseases and pests of interest, glancingly touched on in the most recent tale.
Ta, L.
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