Seanan McGuire (seanan_mcguire) wrote,
Seanan McGuire
seanan_mcguire

  • Mood:
  • Music:

From A to Z in the InCryptid Alphabet: O.

O is for OREAD.

What do you call a silica-based life form that looks exactly like a human being? No, seriously. This isn't a joke; what do you call it? Well, if you're Verity Price, you call it "Marcy," and you let it take the difficult tables during the lunch shift.

The evolution of oreads is heavily debated among cryptozoological circles, as they really do seem to be silica-based, rather than carbon-based, although dissections are somewhat hampered by the need to use a rock hammer. Modern laser technology may help clear up some of the many, many linger questions, as soon as someone with the desire to dissect an oread learns how to use a laser, and gets hold of a dead oread (not easy).

Oreads appear all over the world, but are commonly named from the Greek, simply because those were the first ones most Western cryptozoologists encountered. They have human-level intelligence, and will generally self-identify as the common name for their race.

Some people regard oreads as a bit slow. They're not. They just don't see any reason to hurry things for you.
Tags: discount armageddon, incryptid
  • Post a new comment

    Error

    Anonymous comments are disabled in this journal

    default userpic

    Your reply will be screened

    Your IP address will be recorded 

  • 29 comments

Deleted comment

Oh, dear ghods, your icon. Is wonderful. Is made of win. And pie. Pie with whipped cream. Or ice cream, if that's what you prefer. And really good coffee to go with the pie. Unless you don't like coffee. Do you like coffee? I like coffee.

Deleted comment

janetmiles

5 years ago

There very well may be!
The question is, how do oreads feel about horta?
Laugh a minute.
Trolls! (Well, discworld Trolls, slightly slow people made of rock...) I love you more every letter. Day. You know what I mean.

(previous comment deleted to remove information not for sharing)
Thank you. :)
I just bought both Westward Weird and River last night and sat in the parking lot to read your stories because I couldn't wait until I got home to do so. And I picked up Human for a Day last week when I was at Barnes & Noble ordering the other two. They assured me that Discount Armageddon is on their to-be-stocked list, so I will make a point of buying it as soon as it comes out.

I hope this isn't a stupid question (or worse, something I should have found in the FAQ), but -- I paid for a B&N "membership," which means I get 10% off on purchases for a year. Does it hurt your numbers if I use that discount when I buy your books? I am entirely willing to pay full price for them if that's helpful.
Not at all. The bookstore can discount as much as it likes, and my royalties remain the same unless things have gone into remainder.

janetmiles

5 years ago

I'm more and more excited about these books by the minute!
Yay!
The word nerd in me wonders if a male oread is an oreo. The fantasy/mythology fan is going "Why haven't I read about these things before? Something new to hunt down! YAYZ!"

The gluttonous bookworm that I am is grateful and glad that having lots of authors whose work I like means that there are lots of feasts each year.
Works for me!
It was nice to find an email from Amazon in my inbox this morning listing new recommendations in SF and Fantasy, and have Discount Armageddon be the first title listed, and the one named in the subject line. It appears to be working, too. Right now DA is #3 in Fantasy, and #1,643 of all books on Amazon, with almost two weeks to go to release. :)
Cool!
No need for a dead oread— their commensal bacteria alone should be a wealth of information. Even single-celled silicon-based life from an oread outhouse would keep scientists busy for years!
So true.
evolution of oreads

I think you just explained about politicians...
Heh.
Haven't commented before, but I'm loving these.
Yay!
Total icon love.
I snagged it from <lj user="bkwrrm_tx"; she doesn't mind sharing it as long as there's attribution on your userpics page (or however that works, am too migrainey to actually think).

ravenclawed

5 years ago

I personally might call in a geologist, if a living oread were willing to be non-intrusively examined. Though a sharp *plunk* on the surface might be a bit personal.
Yeah, see. No oread is going to consent to that.