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This short story for the Thursday Prompt is a mix of historically accurate details and things that I completely made up. The main falsehood is that Darwin and Lamarck ever sailed together, or indeed were ever friends; by the time of the Beagle's second voyage (1831-1836), Lamarck had already been dead for several years.
Lamarck did indeed lead a remarkable life – including all of the elements I listed in the story. These days he is mainly remembered for coming up with the first unified theory for the evolution of plants and animals. With the benefit of hindsight his ideas may seem naive, but his work was a remarkable achievement for its time. There is a very good Wikipedia article on him here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-.....ptiste_Lamarck
Charles Darwin probably needs no introduction, but for the sake of completeness: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin
Lamarck did indeed lead a remarkable life – including all of the elements I listed in the story. These days he is mainly remembered for coming up with the first unified theory for the evolution of plants and animals. With the benefit of hindsight his ideas may seem naive, but his work was a remarkable achievement for its time. There is a very good Wikipedia article on him here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-.....ptiste_Lamarck
Charles Darwin probably needs no introduction, but for the sake of completeness: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin
Category Story / All
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Thank you Vixyy, thank you! I tried extra hard to get the nautical terminology right, knowing that a certain fennec who wrote 'Tabor' might just be giving my story a read through
I have only exposed a few of my science-background friends to my writing, and the most favourable response might be summed up as 'bemused tolerance'. Which is to say, pretty much the same reaction as every other non-furry who comes across my stuff
I have only exposed a few of my science-background friends to my writing, and the most favourable response might be summed up as 'bemused tolerance'. Which is to say, pretty much the same reaction as every other non-furry who comes across my stuff
Having gone sailing for the first time in my life last month, I was able to experience this story much more acutely when it came to the descriptions of the boat environment. It reminded me a bit of the Master and Commander film (I've not read the books, alas).
I may give this another read, but I have a lot of catching up to do here on FA. Not sure how I fell so far behind. Good story, Anhedral, it really sets the bar for what a Thursday Prompt is capable of being, although we all tackle it in our own way I suppose. As long as we keep writing, eh?
I recall you mentioned you had a science background. What exactly did you study?
I may give this another read, but I have a lot of catching up to do here on FA. Not sure how I fell so far behind. Good story, Anhedral, it really sets the bar for what a Thursday Prompt is capable of being, although we all tackle it in our own way I suppose. As long as we keep writing, eh?
I recall you mentioned you had a science background. What exactly did you study?
Both film and book of Master and Commander are excellent introductions to life on board a Napoleonic man of war. And I'm happy that you were able to experience sailing at first hand! There's really nothing quite like it.
I am constanty impressed by the variety of creative expression that the Thursday Prompt manages to bring forth. I know that other writing groups run on prompt words as well, but for furry writers there seems little reason to look for any place other than the Thursday Prompt.
I studied zoology and ecology - and that's why I knew I had to submit a story to this prompt word! Thank you for such kind words about my story, Onic.
I am constanty impressed by the variety of creative expression that the Thursday Prompt manages to bring forth. I know that other writing groups run on prompt words as well, but for furry writers there seems little reason to look for any place other than the Thursday Prompt.
I studied zoology and ecology - and that's why I knew I had to submit a story to this prompt word! Thank you for such kind words about my story, Onic.
Wow, there's a lot here. Let's start with the obvious. As Onic mentioned, you've tapped well into the veins of sail craft. My own time on the water limited mostly to motor boats, though I did get to spend a little time on one or two very small sailboats. The movies that seem to best portray life under sail so long ago give me the ability to imagine much. Your story gave me more. Carrying animals for food or as cargo must have made things even less pleasant.
Then there's the reference to the true purpose of science: to advance knowledge and understanding without prejudice. For one scientist to welcome the undermining of his or her work because it results in getting closer to the truth may seem absurd to some. Those who believe in the pursuit of knowledge will nod and quietly approve.
And on top of that is the reshaping of Darwin's voyage. You've pulled Charles' story into your own universe and blended it artistically. In reality he was scientist. In your story, he's also a hidden minority. Jean may have wished for their emergence into the wider world but that is a lot to ask of one man, even a respected (if controversial) one like Charles.
It's dense and deft and fills the mind with thought. Very good work.
Then there's the reference to the true purpose of science: to advance knowledge and understanding without prejudice. For one scientist to welcome the undermining of his or her work because it results in getting closer to the truth may seem absurd to some. Those who believe in the pursuit of knowledge will nod and quietly approve.
And on top of that is the reshaping of Darwin's voyage. You've pulled Charles' story into your own universe and blended it artistically. In reality he was scientist. In your story, he's also a hidden minority. Jean may have wished for their emergence into the wider world but that is a lot to ask of one man, even a respected (if controversial) one like Charles.
It's dense and deft and fills the mind with thought. Very good work.
As ever, your kind and considered comments are so very helpful and encouraging to me. Thank you for giving this strange thing a read!
I'm lucky: I grew up visiting classic ships like Cutty Sark and HMS Victory, consuming the Hornblower books of C.S. Forester, and learning how to sail dinghies. Basically, I loved sailing ships. I just never thought I'd be working that teenage enthusiasm into a story so many years down the line.
Admitting, even welcoming the possibility that one might be completely wrong is one of the central tenets of science. Sure, because science is practiced by humans, the purity of that principle often ends up getting diluted or perverted, but despite this the 'scientific method' has proved to be remarkably resilient since at least the time of Newton. I like to think Lamarck would have been fascinated by Darwin's new insights and would happily have let go of his previous conclusions in the light of new evidence. It would have taken a lot of courage, but then Lamarck was certainly a fearless and highly imaginative fellow.
As for Darwin: yeah, in my version he totally bottled it - at least until that second edition! It was a lot of fun to imagine that his pivotal voyage was actually just a pretext for something larger still.
I'm lucky: I grew up visiting classic ships like Cutty Sark and HMS Victory, consuming the Hornblower books of C.S. Forester, and learning how to sail dinghies. Basically, I loved sailing ships. I just never thought I'd be working that teenage enthusiasm into a story so many years down the line.
Admitting, even welcoming the possibility that one might be completely wrong is one of the central tenets of science. Sure, because science is practiced by humans, the purity of that principle often ends up getting diluted or perverted, but despite this the 'scientific method' has proved to be remarkably resilient since at least the time of Newton. I like to think Lamarck would have been fascinated by Darwin's new insights and would happily have let go of his previous conclusions in the light of new evidence. It would have taken a lot of courage, but then Lamarck was certainly a fearless and highly imaginative fellow.
As for Darwin: yeah, in my version he totally bottled it - at least until that second edition! It was a lot of fun to imagine that his pivotal voyage was actually just a pretext for something larger still.
A fine read, Anhedral. I was not that familiar with the sailing nomenclature but I got the gist of it. Quite an interesting peek behind the curtain so to speak of the scientists and their controversial work as viewed by the Church. One line really stood out to me though, and the intention behind it which could be applied to pretty much any field (like our writing community that participate in the TP).
"...for in this enterprise, we all stand on the shoulders of those who came before."
This is such a powerful statement, and I think every creative person (scientist, writer, painter, etc) embodies this whether they realize it or not. At times we lucky few have friends that gladly hoist us aloft with their critiques, feedback and praise.
Thanks for the interesting perspective.
"...for in this enterprise, we all stand on the shoulders of those who came before."
This is such a powerful statement, and I think every creative person (scientist, writer, painter, etc) embodies this whether they realize it or not. At times we lucky few have friends that gladly hoist us aloft with their critiques, feedback and praise.
Thanks for the interesting perspective.
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