but it's not like human-like is the only kind of treatment there is to that sort of thing, look no farthar than to ASOIAF for a more down to earth approach to animal companions.
Yes, but I think the wargs in ASOIAF (and, say the Witted in the Assassin Trilogy, which is the other example that springs to mind) are quite the same thing as the wolfcarls or Lackey's Heralds -- they are people who have a connection with animals, sure. But to me the interesting thing about the wolfcarls is the institutionalization of the connection with the animal nature being dominant (or even just significant) rather than the human one. That may exist elsewhere, too, but I have not encountered it in other books. It's definitely not like that with Valdemar (I did not read enough of Pern to know if it is or not, but I did not get that impression).
I haven't read too much of Bear's writing, either, but I've sampled several of her series -- Amber-on-a-generation-ship Dust, alien culture Undertow, post-apocalyptic-steampunk-with-Norse-mythology All the Windwracked Stars, and some short stories. It's interesting stuff, though I can't say I'm in love with any of it, because none of the characters fully resonate for me, though I do find some of the ideas interesting and some of the writing lovely.
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Yes, but I think the wargs in ASOIAF (and, say the Witted in the Assassin Trilogy, which is the other example that springs to mind) are quite the same thing as the wolfcarls or Lackey's Heralds -- they are people who have a connection with animals, sure. But to me the interesting thing about the wolfcarls is the institutionalization of the connection with the animal nature being dominant (or even just significant) rather than the human one. That may exist elsewhere, too, but I have not encountered it in other books. It's definitely not like that with Valdemar (I did not read enough of Pern to know if it is or not, but I did not get that impression).
I haven't read too much of Bear's writing, either, but I've sampled several of her series -- Amber-on-a-generation-ship Dust, alien culture Undertow, post-apocalyptic-steampunk-with-Norse-mythology All the Windwracked Stars, and some short stories. It's interesting stuff, though I can't say I'm in love with any of it, because none of the characters fully resonate for me, though I do find some of the ideas interesting and some of the writing lovely.