Quote Originally Posted by Kennar View Post
In my opinion, a well-written pop culture reference is one that can go completely unnoticed by those who don't get it.
I agree. The reference to C'mell that I opened with would be completely missed by anyone who hasn't read Silver Age SciFi. The fact that Cordwainer Smith wrote about animal people, that C'mell was a cat-girl, that it perfectly fits the Miqo'te name paterns, and that Smith's C'mell spent time in jail aren't necessary to appreciate the fact that the cannoneer at Aleport is worried about being tossed in the brig for overreacting to threats outside the walls. If you do know all those things, it's worth a wink and a nudge.