Subject: Re. non-mongamous riders
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Posted on: 2019-10-04 15:00:00 UTC

Interestingly, Dragonsdawn goes some way toward trying to (re)establish non-monogamy among the dragonriders. There's a line somewhere in there about encouraging the golds to mate with as many of the bronzes and browns(!) as possible, to ensure a level of genetic diversity (which proves Anne was more sensible than Todd about genetics, at least). The riders might have their preferences outside of mating flights, but they are expected to put them aside to ensure the future of dragonkind. That expectation doesn't change down the years, though perhaps the need for gold dragons to be promiscuous lessens somewhat as the breeding pool expands. I'm not sure.

If they did remain promiscuous, though, the leadership of a Weyr would never be stable; there could be a different Weyrleader every Turn or less. Mating flights are kind of a really stupid way to determine the leadership of a Weyr, even allowing for dragon intuition choosing boys with the right potential as candidates and bronzeriders. Perhaps the idea WAS for golds to settle down eventually?

Also, I think the rumors about how promiscuous dragonriders get are greatly exaggerated, and more to do with the fact that they have relatively more sexual freedom than holders do. Holders, especially higher status ones, are expected to wed for said status, and to be monogamous to ensure the line of succession. They're also expected to have lots and lots of babies, which female dragonriders and weyrfolk are exempt from if they want to be. It's stated somewhere that women who are Searched often choose to stay in the Weyr even if they don't Impress for those reasons: sexual and reproductive liberty.

But, I agree with Thoth, I don't think the idea was ever that dragonriders tend toward polyamorous relationships. Serial monogamy and outright promiscuity (no serious commitment among flings), sure, but that's different. And, while it's accepted that you could end up sleeping with anyone based on the whims of your dragon, and that it shouldn't be a cause for jealousy, that doesn't mean it wouldn't be, especially considering the emphasis eventually placed on the fact that rider preferences DO influence dragon choice. You'd always have to wonder, wouldn't you?

Let's not forget that riders can sleep with willing non-riders, too. That's a thing. I'm not sure how it fits anyone's point, but it seems like it might be relevant somehow.

In the end, I figure dragonriders enjoy more or less the same spectrum of relationship types as the rest of the population, with or without exception for mating flights. Even if the rider population is more evenly distributed between hetero-, bi-, and homosexuality than the general population, that's a different spectrum. If McCaffrey had other ideas at the time, too bad, she was wrong. {= )

~Neshomeh

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