Dragon body - A Meeting of Minds

Golden Talisath · Jan 18 2010, 05:27 PM

I read on the forum in some of the thread that Pernese dragons don’t have spikes. Don’t they?

AnnMarie · Jan 18 2010, 05:51 PM

Neck ridges are mentioned, but no, no spikes. Spikes would make it hard to ride, don't you think?

Golden Talisath · Jan 18 2010, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnnMarie

Neck ridges are mentioned, but no, no spikes. Spikes would make it hard to ride, don't you think?

True, but what’s so different?

mawra · Jan 18 2010, 11:50 PM

I think ridges are rounded & spikes are pointer & sharp. When ridding rounded would be MUCH better than sharp & pointed.

AnnMarie · Jan 19 2010, 10:43 AM

Ridges would also be wider from side to side, and thicker, I should think.

Anareth · Jan 19 2010, 02:45 PM

Ridges are, one assumes, the vetebral processeses that rise out along the spinal column. Look at a picture of a human skeleton and imagine that the dorsal "ridge" on the vertebrae extended up farther.

Spikes are just extraneous decorative bits stuck willy-nilly on fantasy dragons.

Golden Talisath · Jan 19 2010, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mawra

I think ridges are rounded & spikes are pointer & sharp. When ridding rounded would be MUCH better than sharp & pointed.

True… I thought as much.

GinnyStar · Jan 19 2010, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anareth

Ridges are, one assumes, the vetebral processeses that rise out along the spinal column. Look at a picture of a human skeleton and imagine that the dorsal "ridge" on the vertebrae extended up farther.
<sinp>

just think of a dolphin's dorsal ridge as an idea, for folks hang on to them, CoP:DB - "The Dolphin's Bell" and DoP - The Dolphins of Pern
SoP - The Skies of Pern e.g. of :)

Cavatica · Jan 23 2010, 02:55 PM

Dragons definitely don't have spikes! As other people have said, they have vertebral processes or protuberances, usually known as neckridges or ridges. In fact, the DLG sez:

On the back of a dragonet's neck is a line of ridges leading from just behind the head knobs down to the shoulder muscles of the wings. The ridges are not prominent between the wings and continue from just behind them to the forked end of the tail.

A really excellent example? Michael Whelan's beautiful cover for All the Weyrs of Pern, a painting called "Weyrworld." And before you nitpickers get all over me: yes, Ruth's got one line of ridges happening on his tail, not two; yes, he's also got ridges on his face, not just his head and neck. But as an illustration of ridges v. spikes, it works, particularly in the way that Ruth's back has that nice little spinal ridge happening, but no actual bumps.

A spiky dragon, on the other hand -- and I'll use another of Whelan's -- looks like this. Ouch! You definitely wouldn't want to stick your finger on one of those spines. ;> Or, you know, look up any of Ciruelo's dragons. Talk about spiky!

Tamara Henson · Feb 18 2010, 06:34 PM

My favorite is the dragon on the cover of the US edition of Get Of the Unicorn with it's Stegosaurus plates - how would a rider sit on that thing talk about OUCH!

Weyrlady · Feb 18 2010, 08:05 PM

My personal favorite spiky dragon is the original 1971 cover of Dragonquest, where Canth has (no kidding) spikes, horns and antlers.F'nor'd probably impale himself just getting on or off in a hurry--not good

Spinal ridges are one thing; spinal columns are supposed to be hard. I have ridges--they're called vertebrae. They're just more pronounced on a dragon, probably because they have more muscle stabilizing their spine.

GinnyStar · Feb 19 2010, 11:42 PM

Also riders/passages can be press in to the neck ridges from the air presser in fight, Also both can use them to hang on too.

Jan 18 2010, 05:27 PM	#1
Golden Talisath Dragonrider storyteller Junior Weyrwoman Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Serbia Gender: F Fan of: F'lar and Lessa, DF Now Reading: My university books	Dragon body I read on the forum in some of the thread that Pernese dragons don’t have spikes. Don’t they? __________________ *"Manuscripts don't burn", Woland, ''The Master and Margarita*'' From the Weyr and from the Bowl Bronze and Brown and Blue and Green, Rise the dragonmen of Pern, Aloft, on wing, seen, then unseen. Dragonman avoid excess Greed will bring the Weyr distress; To the ancient Laws adhere, Prospers thus the Dragon-weyr.

Jan 18 2010, 05:51 PM	#2
AnnMarie Dragonrider Weyrwoman Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: On the Edge Gender: F Fan of: Pern and Talent Now Reading: The Name of the Rose	Re: Dragon body Neck ridges are mentioned, but no, no spikes. Spikes would make it hard to ride, don't you think?

Jan 18 2010, 11:50 PM	#4
mawra Dolphin Friend Craftmaster Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: CONCORD VA Gender: F Fan of: PERN Now Reading: Dolphins of Pern and Queens ow	Re: Dragon body I think ridges are rounded & spikes are pointer & sharp. When ridding rounded would be MUCH better than sharp & pointed. __________________ November is write a 50,000 (or more) word novel, so go write MEDDLE NOT IN THE AFFAIRS OF DRAGONS, FOR YOU ARE CRUNCHY AND GOOD WITH CHOCOLATE SO MANY BOOKS SO LITTLE TIME DRIVING SMART KEEPS YOU ALIVE

Jan 19 2010, 10:43 AM	#5
AnnMarie Dragonrider Weyrwoman Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: On the Edge Gender: F Fan of: Pern and Talent Now Reading: The Name of the Rose	Re: Dragon body Ridges would also be wider from side to side, and thicker, I should think.

Jan 19 2010, 02:45 PM	#6
Anareth Journeywoman Healer Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Here and There Gender: F Fan of: Pern, Ship Series Now Reading: Girl Genius (read it!)	Re: Dragon body Ridges are, one assumes, the vetebral processeses that rise out along the spinal column. Look at a picture of a human skeleton and imagine that the dorsal "ridge" on the vertebrae extended up farther. Spikes are just extraneous decorative bits stuck willy-nilly on fantasy dragons. __________________ Read "Strange Roads" Keep the Heat on for Book 3

Jan 23 2010, 02:55 PM	#9
Cavatica Inactive Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Raleigh, NC Gender: F Fan of: Pern, Talents Now Reading: Just finished: House of Suns	Re: Dragon body Dragons definitely don't have spikes! As other people have said, they have vertebral processes or protuberances, usually known as neckridges or ridges. In fact, the DLG sez: On the back of a dragonet's neck is a line of ridges leading from just behind the head knobs down to the shoulder muscles of the wings. The ridges are not prominent between the wings and continue from just behind them to the forked end of the tail. A really excellent example? Michael Whelan's beautiful cover for All the Weyrs of Pern, a painting called "Weyrworld." And before you nitpickers get all over me: yes, Ruth's got one line of ridges happening on his tail, not two; yes, he's also got ridges on his face, not just his head and neck. But as an illustration of ridges v. spikes, it works, particularly in the way that Ruth's back has that nice little spinal ridge happening, but no actual bumps. A spiky dragon, on the other hand -- and I'll use another of Whelan's -- looks like this. Ouch! You definitely wouldn't want to stick your finger on one of those spines. ;> Or, you know, look up any of Ciruelo's dragons. Talk about spiky!

Feb 18 2010, 06:34 PM	#10
Tamara Henson Inactive Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: California Gender: F Fan of: All the Weyrs of Pern Now Reading: The Ship Who Sang by Anne McCaffrey	Re: Dragon body My favorite is the dragon on the cover of the US edition of Get Of the Unicorn with it's Stegosaurus plates - how would a rider sit on that thing talk about OUCH!

Feb 18 2010, 08:05 PM	#11
Weyrlady Dragonrider Weyrling Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sedona, Arizona USA Gender: F Fan of: DroP/Canth fangirl Now Reading: Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon	Re: Dragon body My personal favorite spiky dragon is the original 1971 cover of Dragonquest, where Canth has (no kidding) spikes, horns and antlers.F'nor'd probably impale himself just getting on or off in a hurry--not good Spinal ridges are one thing; spinal columns are supposed to be hard. I have ridges--they're called vertebrae. They're just more pronounced on a dragon, probably because they have more muscle stabilizing their spine.

Feb 19 2010, 11:42 PM	#12
GinnyStar Dolphineer Craftmaster Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Wausau, WI USA, Central Standard Time Gender: F Fan of: Pern, other SF works Now Reading: Dragonback Bargain	Re: Dragon body Also riders/passages can be press in to the neck ridges from the air presser in fight, Also both can use them to hang on too. __________________ Lover s s, s and friends Lover of and beads, http://www.change.org/profiles/GinnyStar Dragoncave GinnyStar2 Jellied Dragons Lair of Dragons http://dragcave.net/user/GinnyStar2 Thanks! Others: None at this time WIP http://archiveofourown.org/works/252259 http://www.daisy.org/learning-difficulties

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