Freefall: Wagging the Tail
http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff3700/fc03678.htm

I still think that humans would do well with a prehensile tail.

Lynn

In article <so8fau$v11$1@dont-email.me>,
Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
>Freefall: Wagging the Tail
> http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff3700/fc03678.htm
>
>I still think that humans would do well with a prehensile tail.

We might; but we are descended from Old World apes, not New World
monkeys.

ObSortOfSF: H. Allen Smith, _The Age of the Tail._

In which all humans suddenly start being born with tails. One of
his last books, published 1956, which is about when I read it.
Can't remember now whether the tails were prehensile or just
decorative.

--
Dorothy J. Heydt
Vallejo, California
djheydt at gmail dot com
Www.kithrup.com/~djheydt/

In article <r3GAnM.1nL7@kithrup.com>,
Dorothy J Heydt <djheydt@kithrup.com> wrote:
>In article <so8fau$v11$1@dont-email.me>,
>Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
>>Freefall: Wagging the Tail
>> http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff3700/fc03678.htm
>>
>>I still think that humans would do well with a prehensile tail.
>
>We might; but we are descended from Old World apes, not New World
>monkeys.
>
>ObSortOfSF: H. Allen Smith, _The Age of the Tail._
>
>In which all humans suddenly start being born with tails. One of
>his last books, published 1956, which is about when I read it.
>Can't remember now whether the tails were prehensile or just
>decorative.
>

Someone, de Camp perhaps, wrote a story about an event (tech? magic?)
that gave humans back pelts. The early years were all about trying
to undo it, the later ones about: Hey, this is pretty neat! (Especially
from the formerly bald).
--
columbiaclosings.com
What's not in Columbia anymore..

In article <j0q2edFoo77U1@mid.individual.net>,
Ted Nolan <tednolan> <tednolan> wrote:
>In article <r3GAnM.1nL7@kithrup.com>,
>Dorothy J Heydt <djheydt@kithrup.com> wrote:
>>In article <so8fau$v11$1@dont-email.me>,
>>Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>Freefall: Wagging the Tail
>>> http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff3700/fc03678.htm
>>>
>>>I still think that humans would do well with a prehensile tail.
>>
>>We might; but we are descended from Old World apes, not New World
>>monkeys.
>>
>>ObSortOfSF: H. Allen Smith, _The Age of the Tail._
>>
>>In which all humans suddenly start being born with tails. One of
>>his last books, published 1956, which is about when I read it.
>>Can't remember now whether the tails were prehensile or just
>>decorative.
>>
>
>Someone, de Camp perhaps, wrote a story about an event (tech? magic?)
>that gave humans back pelts. The early years were all about trying
>to undo it, the later ones about: Hey, this is pretty neat! (Especially
>from the formerly bald).

I remember that one, and I think you're right that it's by de
Camp. Can't remember the title, but I remember the final line.
One of the characters was in a business that failed like
buggywhips in the Car Age, but he's gone into a new business
that's making him rich.

"They make currycombs!"

--
Dorothy J. Heydt
Vallejo, California
djheydt at gmail dot com
Www.kithrup.com/~djheydt/

On Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at 2:55:03 PM UTC-6, Dorothy J Heydt wrote:
> In article <j0q2ed...@mid.individual.net>,
> Ted Nolan <tednolan> <tednolan> wrote:
> >In article <r3GAn...@kithrup.com>,
> >Dorothy J Heydt <djh...@kithrup.com> wrote:
> >>In article <so8fau$v11$1...@dont-email.me>,
> >>Lynn McGuire <lynnmc...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>Freefall: Wagging the Tail
> >>> http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff3700/fc03678.htm
> >>>
> >>>I still think that humans would do well with a prehensile tail.
> >>
> >>We might; but we are descended from Old World apes, not New World
> >>monkeys.
> >>
> >>ObSortOfSF: H. Allen Smith, _The Age of the Tail._
> >>
> >>In which all humans suddenly start being born with tails. One of
> >>his last books, published 1956, which is about when I read it.
> >>Can't remember now whether the tails were prehensile or just
> >>decorative.
> >>
> >
> >Someone, de Camp perhaps, wrote a story about an event (tech? magic?)
> >that gave humans back pelts. The early years were all about trying
> >to undo it, the later ones about: Hey, this is pretty neat! (Especially
> >from the formerly bald).
> I remember that one, and I think you're right that it's by de
> Camp. Can't remember the title, but I remember the final line.
> One of the characters was in a business that failed like
> buggy whips in the Car Age, but he's gone into a new business
> that's making him rich.
>
> "They make currycombs!"

The story is _Hyperpilosity_:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperpilosity

The unsuccessful business was chemical depilators. These had a brief
period of growth when people were trying to get rid of the fur, but became
obsolete when people embraced the change.

Peter Wezeman
anti-social Darwinist

In article <e1183e99-f1f0-4192-9dee-e539cd08d811n@googlegroups.com>,
peterwezeman@hotmail.com <peterwezeman@hotmail.com> wrote:
>On Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at 2:55:03 PM UTC-6, Dorothy J Heydt wrote:
>> In article <j0q2ed...@mid.individual.net>,
>> Ted Nolan <tednolan> <tednolan> wrote:
>> >In article <r3GAn...@kithrup.com>,
>> >Dorothy J Heydt <djh...@kithrup.com> wrote:
>> >>In article <so8fau$v11$1...@dont-email.me>,
>> >>Lynn McGuire <lynnmc...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >>>Freefall: Wagging the Tail
>> >>> http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff3700/fc03678.htm
>> >>>
>> >>>I still think that humans would do well with a prehensile tail.
>> >>
>> >>We might; but we are descended from Old World apes, not New World
>> >>monkeys.
>> >>
>> >>ObSortOfSF: H. Allen Smith, _The Age of the Tail._
>> >>
>> >>In which all humans suddenly start being born with tails. One of
>> >>his last books, published 1956, which is about when I read it.
>> >>Can't remember now whether the tails were prehensile or just
>> >>decorative.
>> >>
>> >
>> >Someone, de Camp perhaps, wrote a story about an event (tech? magic?)
>> >that gave humans back pelts. The early years were all about trying
>> >to undo it, the later ones about: Hey, this is pretty neat! (Especially
>> >from the formerly bald).
>> I remember that one, and I think you're right that it's by de
>> Camp. Can't remember the title, but I remember the final line.
>> One of the characters was in a business that failed like
>> buggy whips in the Car Age, but he's gone into a new business
>> that's making him rich.
>>
>> "They make currycombs!"
>
>The story is _Hyperpilosity_:
>
>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperpilosity
>
>The unsuccessful business was chemical depilators. These had a brief
>period of growth when people were trying to get rid of the fur, but became
>obsolete when people embraced the change.

Thank you!

--
Dorothy J. Heydt
Vallejo, California
djheydt at gmail dot com
Www.kithrup.com/~djheydt/

On 1 Dec 2021 19:58:05 GMT, ted@loft.tnolan.com (Ted Nolan <tednolan>)
wrote:

> Someone, de Camp perhaps, wrote a story about an event (tech? magic?)
> that gave humans back pelts. The early years were all about trying
> to undo it, the later ones about: Hey, this is pretty neat! (Especially
> from the formerly bald).

I remember the story, but not the title or author. It was told from
the viewpoint of two men who were working on a cure; the final
paragraph revealed that one of them had invested in depilatories, the
other in currycombs.

--
Joy Beeson
joy beeson at centurylink dot net
http://wlweather.net/PAGEJOY/

On 12/1/2021 1:42 PM, Dorothy J Heydt wrote:
> In article <j0q2edFoo77U1@mid.individual.net>,
> Ted Nolan <tednolan> <tednolan> wrote:
>> In article <r3GAnM.1nL7@kithrup.com>,
>> Dorothy J Heydt <djheydt@kithrup.com> wrote:
>>> In article <so8fau$v11$1@dont-email.me>,
>>> Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> Freefall: Wagging the Tail
>>>> http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff3700/fc03678.htm
>>>>
>>>> I still think that humans would do well with a prehensile tail.
>>>
>>> We might; but we are descended from Old World apes, not New World
>>> monkeys.
>>>
>>> ObSortOfSF: H. Allen Smith, _The Age of the Tail._
>>>
>>> In which all humans suddenly start being born with tails. One of
>>> his last books, published 1956, which is about when I read it.
>>> Can't remember now whether the tails were prehensile or just
>>> decorative.
>>>
>>
>> Someone, de Camp perhaps, wrote a story about an event (tech? magic?)
>> that gave humans back pelts. The early years were all about trying
>> to undo it, the later ones about: Hey, this is pretty neat! (Especially
>>from the formerly bald).
>
> I remember that one, and I think you're right that it's by de
> Camp. Can't remember the title, but I remember the final line.
> One of the characters was in a business that failed like
> buggywhips in the Car Age, but he's gone into a new business
> that's making him rich.
>
> "They make currycombs!"
>

Makes me wonder if a non-zero number of golden-age SF authors would have
been furries had that option existed in the 40s.

--
Chrysi Cat
1/2 anthrocat, nearly 1/2 anthrofox, all magical
Transgoddess, quick to anger
Call me Chrysi or call me Kat, I'll respond to either!