During my dinner break, I stopped by the local Allied Hobbies, and discovered
a rather odd pack of figures. The pack was called
"Seductress" (Ral Partha, 02-808), and had three figures:
A catwoman with her tail wrapped around her in what could be considered
a "seductive" fashion--assuming that you are attracted to women with
tails. Not a bad figure, but not particularly useful, either.
The second figure is a humanoid feline, standing about 8" tall in 25mm scale.
He is wearing full body armor, and carrying a large gun. His tail looks
suspiciously ratlike.
The third figure is similar to the second, but is armed with a knife and
only armored from the waist down. His ears are fan-like, rather than
feline.
Clearly, these are meant to be Kzinti. They are part of the "LARRY ELMORE'S
COLLECTOR SERIES", so I assume that they are based on a book
cover--anyone know which one? I'm going to pick up a pack (the store
has three) just so I can say I've got a Kzin figure...I think I'll call him
"Speaker to Lunchmeat." Anyone know where I can find a Puppeteer?
In a message dated 99-02-01 18:33:42 EST, you write:
<< Clearly, these are meant to be Kzinti. They are part of the "LARRY ELMORE'S
COLLECTOR SERIES", so I assume that they are based on a book
cover--anyone know which one? I'm going to pick up a pack (the store
has three) just so I can say I've got a Kzin figure...I think I'll call
him "Speaker to Lunchmeat." Anyone know where I can find a Puppeteer?
> [quoted text omitted]
I would check out a site to do with Larry Nivin, the auther of Known space or
the Man Kzin wars and go from there.
-Stephen
> On Mon, 1 Feb 1999, John C wrote:
> During my dinner break, I stopped by the local Allied Hobbies, and
the rapid-acting anderson sf brain springs into action! i recall a niven
story, i think a short, possibly in the "neutron star" collection. i will now
describe the plot to jog memories. i will make huge, embarrassing
mistakes (sorry - niven is not my strong point).
modern kzin females are essentially non-sentient: the dominant males
have bred them over millenia to reduce the threat to their power base (i know
what you're thinking - stop now!). this is relevant.
our human hero winds up on some sort of museum planet, where there are
zones like each of the major worlds - earth, kzinti, etc. there are
natives in some sort of suspended animation stored in tubes. he may have had a
kzin with him for some reason, or one turns up a bit later. anyway, he
reanimates a couple of kzin females, for some reason, or something.
since these are ancient kzin, the females are intelligent. thus, the modern
male kzin is tricked and trapped by a cunning female because he assumed she
wasn't a threat. the female kzin are on the human's side here (i think they
were political criminals before being collected for the museum). the story
then goes on to a happy ending.
anyway, the only female kzin who actually does anything in a niven book, and
so is worth drawing on a cover and modelling, is the cunning one from this
story. ergo, that's the bunny.
i hope this helps, Tom
John C sed:
***
During my dinner break, I stopped by the local Allied Hobbies, and discovered
a rather odd pack of figures. The pack was called
"Seductress" (Ral Partha, 02-808), and had three figures:
***
Funny thing, I saw these yesterday while looking through Ral Partha for elves
to be converted to Martians for Space 1889. Barely gave them a second thought,
though now you've got me brain wondering. I've a number of packs of Traveller
Aslan waiting for me to succumb to the alure of SGII. The RP felines are close
in height but much thinner. I'll have to take another look; I'm thinking they
have forward-bending knees, but I think Aslan have reversed knees.
I can't recall Elmore doing any of Niven's covers, but I tended not to look
that closely. However, wasn't the mentioned 'intellegent' female story in one
of the
Man-Kzin series that included Known Universe tales centering on Kzin,
written by other authors? *shrug* I gave up on it after Jerry Pournelle
started being included.
Also, while it's been a long time since I read any, I thought the
bat-wing ear
was characteristic of the Kzin. I just wish one of the figs would have been
made
craven to look like a Kzin psycher. ;->=
The_Beast
In a message dated 99-02-02 08:45:27 EST, you write:
<< the rapid-acting anderson sf brain springs into action! i recall a
niven story, i think a short, possibly in the "neutron star" collection. i
will now describe the plot to jog memories. i will make huge, embarrassing
mistakes (sorry - niven is not my strong point).
modern kzin females are essentially non-sentient: the dominant males
have bred them over millenia to reduce the threat to their power base (i know
what you're thinking - stop now!). this is relevant.
our human hero winds up on some sort of museum planet, where there are
zones like each of the major worlds - earth, kzinti, etc. there are
natives in some sort of suspended animation stored in tubes. he may have had a
kzin with him for some reason, or one turns up a bit later. anyway, he
reanimates a couple of kzin females, for some reason, or something.
since these are ancient kzin, the females are intelligent. thus, the modern
male kzin is tricked and trapped by a cunning female because he assumed she
wasn't a threat. the female kzin are on the human's side here (i think they
were political criminals before being collected for the museum). the story
then goes on to a happy ending.
anyway, the only female kzin who actually does anything in a niven book, and
so is worth drawing on a cover and modelling, is the cunning one from this
story. ergo, that's the bunny.
i hope this helps, Tom >> That in Man Kzin wars, I just got done reading it
(abot a month ago)
-Stephen
Phil sed:
***
And since there haven't been any sentient females for centuries, there won't
be
any female telepaths -- so you won't get one, craven or otherwise, in a
pack called "Seductress" <g>.
***
Well, stretching my limited memory even further: I think only one of the pack
was obviously female. I think the other two are supposedly male escorts. Oh,
and
definitely not 'barrel' chested. Lithe and cat-like.
Unless my imagination is overwhelming my memory. I DID admit to the title
pervert... ;->=
Anyway, I'll need to take one of my Aslan packs over to the Hobbytown and
compare to Seductress crew one of these days.
The_Beast
John C said:
> During my dinner break, I stopped by the local Allied Hobbies, and
Later, Tom chimed in with a short resume of a story plot involving intelligent
Kzinti females, which he thought came from the "Neutron Star" collection. The
Beast replied:
> However, wasn't the mentioned 'intelligent' female story in one of
Yep. The intelligent females story was from M-KW I, the only one of
that series that I've read. Wasn't bad -- certainly the best story in
the book.
> Also, while it's been a long time since I read any, I thought the
Yes, Kzinti have foldable "bat-wing" ears. I guess that Jon T. has
proven that females with big "ears" (i.e., the Gun Bunnies) can still look
good, but I really wouldn't expect a Kzin female as described in the books and
illustrated by such people as Rick Sternbach (sp?) to be
attractive to humans. The body shape is all wrong -- that
characteristic Kzin barrel-chest that results from the geodetic rib
structure, for a start. And since there haven't been any sentient
females for centuries, there won't be any female telepaths -- so you
won't get one, craven or otherwise, in a pack called "Seductress" <g>.
Phil, who quite liked Fritz Leiber's cat-woman from "The Wanderer",
even if I can't remember her name...
> At 08:10 AM 2/2/99 -0600, you wrote:
Look for Rafm Dark Elves--the same sculptor, I am almost sure of it.
> Barely gave them a second thought,
That, I don't remember. I have a few of 15mm Aslan; I'd never thought of
using them for Kzin. I've also got a few 15mm pseudo-moties (Laserburn
Tri-Motes), and would kill for some decent 25mm Moties. They would be
SO much fun....
> I can't recall Elmore doing any of Niven's covers, but I tended not to
Generally, I avoid books set in a particular universe that are not written by
that universe's original creator. It's just not the same, somehow. Although I
would kill to see the episode of the Star Trek cartoon that the Kzin appeared
in. The idea is so bizarre that it appeals.
> Also, while it's been a long time since I read any, I thought the
It is. The bat-wing ear, I mean. For a Kzin telepath, you ould always
look
through the plethora of fantasy catmen out there--adapting a figure into
a Kzin would be relatively easy.
> I can't recall Elmore doing any of Niven's covers, but I tended not to
> Generally, I avoid books set in a particular universe that are not
While I often agree with you, one notable example I have read is a short story
by Orson Scott Card (forget the story name & anthology - maybe 'Monkey
Sonatas' I'll try and dig it up tonight) set in Asimov's foundation. It deals
with a scientist who is passed over when Hari Seldon establishes the
Foundation and sends them out to their remote world. He does a very good job
of capturing
Asimov's style. It just _feels_ like it belongs there.
Howdy!
Thanks for the word on the "Kzinti" figs. Now I won't have to go through the
bother of sculpting them....:)
Laterish!
Ken