"Anderson, Poul And Gordon R Dickson - Hokas Pokas" - читать интересную книгу автора (Anderson Poul)

Prologue

From the Encyclopaedia Galactica, 11th edition:



TOKA: Brackney's Star III. The sun (NSC 7-190853426) is of type
G2, located in Region Deneb, approximately 503 light-years from
Sol. . . . The third planet appears Earthlike, to a sufficiently
superficial observer . . . There are three small moons, their League
names being Uha, Buha, and Huha. As is customary in the case of
inhabited planets, these derive from a major autochthonous
language (see NOMENCLATURE: Astronomical). It was
discovered too late that they mean, respectively, "Fat," "Drunk,"
and "Sluggish." . . .

At least "Toka" means "Earth." However, indigenous tongues have
become little more than historical curiosities, displaced by
whatever Terrestrial speech suits the role of the moment. . . .

Two intelligent species evolved, known today as the Hokas and the
Slissii. The former are quasi-mammalian, the latter reptiloid. . . .
Conflict was ineluctable. . . . It terminated after human explorers
had come upon the system and the Interbeing League took
charge. . . . In effect, the Slissii were bought out. Abandoning their
home world en masse, they became free wanderers throughout
civilization, much to its detriment. (See SLISSII. See also
COMPUTER CRIME; CONFIDENCE GAMES; EMBEZZLEMENT;
GAMBLING: Crooked; MISREPRESENTATION; POLITICS.)

The ursinoid Hokas generally stayed in place. No nation of theirs
refused to accept League tutelage, which of course has had the
objective of raising their level of civilization to a point where
autonomy and full membership can be granted. Rather, they all
agreed with an eagerness which should have warned the
Commissioners. . . .

The fact is that the Hokas are the most imaginative race of beings
in known space, and doubtless in unknown space too. Any role that
strikes their fancy they will play, individually or as a group, to the
limits of the preposterous and beyond. This does not imply
deficiency of intellect, for they are remarkably quick to learn. It
does not even imply that they lose touch with reality; indeed, they
have been heard to complain that reality often loses touch with
them. It does demonstrate a completely protean personality.
Added to that are a physical strength and energy astonishing in