What's Up With Great A'Tuin?

[Tonyblack]

This is from this site's banner - what's He/She got tied to His/Her flipper?



And who tied the bow??

[swreader]

Why Tony--don't you remember that the Great A'Tuin had babies--which rather settles the question of sex.

As to the rest of the painting or design of the cover on the main page of the site-- Artistic license is all I can say about things like why is A'Tuin holding or pulling a sign the flutters in the breeze, and what is that jelly fish looking thing behind her supposed to be? Surely that's not a nebula!

[Hegewych]

Is it so that she remember's something, you know like a piece of string tied round your finger - or am I clutching at straws

[Tonyblack]

I thought it was a bandage when I first saw it.

[doc brown]

I reckon it must be the Discworld version of showing your support for Alzheimer's Research by wearing a ribbon, in which case I'm sure Terry must have tied it

Perhaps those of us going should do this at the Con

[Tonyblack]

Indeed! Providing you have flippers of course!

[Twankydillo]

Is it so that she remember's something, you know like a piece of string tied round your finger - or am I clutching at straws

But she's forgotten what she tied it round her flipper for

[Hegewych]

That didn't work then

[Nausica]

Why Tony--don't you remember that the Great A'Tuin had babies--which rather settles the question of sex.

Ah, but is that what really happened? All we know is that A'Tuin swam to a star and watched some eggs hatch...

[SapphireForgeCat]

Ah, but is that what really happened? All we know is that A'Tuin swam to a star and watched some eggs hatch...

Now THAT is the sort of quote that could come from the discworld itself. I love it.

[VesuvianRuin]

A nice trip out for Great At'uin, see some new stars, sit and eat popcorn as soon eggs hatch, congratulate everybody, wonder where Uncle Ph'il went then have a nice trip back.

Something to do for a year or two anyway

[Katariina]

Why Tony--don't you remember that the Great A'Tuin had babies--which rather settles the question of sex.

Ah, but is that what really happened? All we know is that A'Tuin swam to a star and watched some eggs hatch...

And then "The little turtles swam away, circling their parent" or something like that. Can't remember the exact quote.

So A'Tuin is their parent, but mum or dad? Remains a mystery...

[Jinx]

Isn't A'Tuin reffered to as he in later books?
Admittedly anytime I've picked up on it, it's been in dialog only. You can't assume the characters are right, they could be just assuming.

[Tonyblack]

I think it's a case of referring to A'Tuin as 'he' rather than 'it'. I don't think the events of Light Fantastic proved whether A'Tuin was male or female, so it's still anyone's guess.

I don't think (could be wrong) that female turtles on Earth return to their eggs when they are about to hatch and I suspect the same is the case for the males.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[Jarmara]

personally, I prefer to respect A'tuin's privacy