Inside Scoop page 1

THE FED DATASPACE TRAVEL GUIDE: DRYAD

by Trilleth

Introducing a new regular feature in the Fed2 Star: a travel guide telling potential visitors what you can expect from the varied worlds in the Galaxy. I'll be alternating my visits between old, long-established worlds, and new ones which have only been linked to the trading routes recently. To start with, I visited Dryad.

When you've spent a few months on honeymoon and are suddenly left with nothing to do, there's really only one choice for a bored manufacturer: go on vacation! If you're trying to escape the clamoring of your various investors, what better system to vacation on than Lost?

What is any vacation without a good tour? I started out on the space station, taking the tour of the Dryad museum. Partway through a yawn, I remembered that I don't like museums, however interesting, but I stuck it out to the bitter end. One revelation had me mildly nervous. A planet with no men? I had to hope there were plenty of tourists to keep me company, then.

The planet is cold! I don't care if they did offer a very un-fashionable fur parka to me, no one warned me not to wear shorts. I found a river, but it was frozen, which is hardly inspiring for a swim. I did eventually find fireplaces, lingering long enough to warm up before visiting the rest of the planet.

Ahh, a bed. Okay, it really is Jessecka's bed, but a girl has to sleep somewhere after a long day of vacationing. It was very comfortable, warm... yawn. Oh, sorry, where was I?

I did briefly get misplaced (I'm never lost), but found my way out again, eventually to leave the planet. I do think I'll return again... but only when I'm wearing warmer clothing.

RATINGS
Water feature: 8 There are several water features, ranging from frozen ice (brrrr!) to a hot tub (much nicer) to a ritual cleaning room (you'll smell permanently of lavender). Not really anywhere to swim, but at least a being can get cleaned up.
Bed: 9 It was a very, very comfortable bed, albeit Jessecka's bed. There were other locations suitable for sleep, too.
Style sense: 4 There are a few people who can pull off fur parkas with style. The rest of us shouldn't be subjected to them.
Social scene: 7 It's impossible for me to give a really high rating to a planet without men. It just won't happen. However, there were Dryad goddesses everywhere, so at least a girl could get in a good gabfest. I suppose if you're of the masculine persuasion you might even enjoy all the nubile, lovely women.
Shopping: 0 Although there is a very nice bar, there's no shopping. A planet of women and no shopping?? That just can't be right.

Fed2 Star index Previous issues Fed 2 home page