History Literature / CourtshipRite

* HomosexualReproduction: The Liethe commonly create new clone-lines by fusing ova from two existing but not quite perfect lines, though they do also breed with the priests they seduce. While the maran-Kaiel brothers were produced from a complicated process combining Prime Predictor Taien's genes with genes from a past male Prime Predictor who died long ago.

* SyntheticPlague: Of locusts. Oelita discovers a native species of insect which is eating wheat and ''not dying''. Normally, native life finds Terran life as poisonous as Terran life finds native life. When the Kaiel get a sample of the insect, they discover it has been deliberately genetically modified, and furthermore, the Mnankrei are standing by with ships of grain waiting for the famine these bugs will cause, so they can trade food for fealty.

* ClonesArePeopleToo: Most clans are busy with their {{super breeding program}}s, and don't bother with cloning, since identical genes are, by definition, not improved genes. The Liethe are a notable exception.

* GuileHero: Hoemei. In a clan where status derives from making accurate predictions, and clan members are encouraged to manipulate events to make their predictions come true, Hoemei is the second-best predictor/manipulator.

* FreeLoveFuture: At least a mild version, possibly justified in part by the need to keep birth rates high to match the high death rates, as well as the need to avoid excessive inbreeding. Most Getan tribes may be trying to breed themselves for specific traits, but they're very aware of the dangers of inbreeding. In any case, casual sex seems common, even for married people, although jealousy is far from unknown.

* DesignerBabies: Some clans do perform genetic manipulation to try to improve themselves, but since the results can be unpredictable, and the techniques are expensive and difficult, it's not all that common. Genetic screening for undesirable traits is common, but even there, the Getans are aware that diversity is a boon in the long run.

* SocialDarwinist: The entire population of the world of Geta are Type 2 fictional Social Darwinists; the native life of the planet is mostly not edible, and famines are historically common. Cannibalism is part of their way of life, in which people with less ''kalothi'' (worthiness to survive) go to feed those of higher ''kalothi'' in times of need. The end of the book reveals that in the far future they have become a different species.

* ClonesArePeopleToo: Most clans are busy with their {{super breeding program}}s, and don't bother with cloning, since identical genes are, by definition, not improved genes. The Liethe are the exception. Every Liethe secretly has a number of clone-sisters of varying ages, and no outsider ever learns the true identity of a Liethe. The outside world only meets fake personas which can be played by different clone-sisters in turn. The clones are very much different individuals with different skills. Some members of a clone group like the se-Tufi are always trained as assassins; the se-Tufi Who Walks In Humility is one such.

* OurNudityIsDifferent: Getans gradually decorate their skin with scars and tattoos. Scarred skin can be freely displayed in public, but showing unmodified skin is considered titillating and/or scandalous. The Liethe clan leave their skin unmodified, both for sex appeal, and to disguise the fact that they make heavy use of cloning.

* ArrangedMarriage: More-or-less the core of the story is the reluctance of the maran-Kaiel five-family to comply with the arranged marriage to Oelita the Gentle Heretic, ordered by the Kaiel clan's Prime Predictor. At least initially.

* Hoemei: elected "the brain" of the three brothers. Family administrator.
* Gaet: elected "the heart" of the three brothers. The social one, makes friends easily.
* Joesai: elected "the loins" of the three brothers. TheBigGuy.
* Noe: one-wife of the brothers; member of the Kaiel clan.
* Teenae: two-wife of the brothers; member of the o'Tghalie clan. Mathematical whiz.
* Kathein: the woman the brothers wanted to make their three-wife. Member of the Kaiel clan.
* Oelita: the Gentle Heretic. Clanless.
* Aesoe: the current Prime Predictor and head priest of the Kaiel clan.
* The se-Tufi Who Walks In Humility: an assassin/courtesan of the Liethe clan.

* OurNudityIsDifferent: Getans gradually decorate their skin with scars and tattoos. Scarred skin can be freely displayed in public, but showing unmodified skin is considered titillating and/or scandalous. The Leithe clan leave their skin unmodified, both for sex appeal, and to disguise the fact that they make heavy use of cloning.

!!! Characters:

* LanguageDrift: Becomes a major plot point when they finally decode ancient documents, including a history of Earth, and learn, among other things, that their word for "God" used to mean "ship". Which puts a whole new perspective on the legend that the God in the sky which they can see every night brought them to Geta.

* ActualPacifist: Oelita the Gentle Heretic. She is totally opposed to cannibalism and culling, and preaches of non-violence and peace. Though she did make a point of attending her father's funeral feast, and still carries dried strips of his flesh. She believes that eating small amounts gives her superhuman strength.

* DeliberateValuesDissonance: Almost the point of the book. Cannibalism is accepted and normal, bound with ritual, and the heretic who argues against it comes off as a bit crazy. Without cannibalism, there would be ''no people'' on Geta, or at best, only a desperate handful.