Woodcarver is the
nemesis and
polar opposite of
Flenser. As is pointed out in the book, the names are
characteristic of the attitudes harboured by each, and consequently the
behaviour you can expect from each.
However, there are
similarities between the two great leaders. Woodcarver, like Flenser, believes that a (sentient) pack's traits can improved by the selective inclusion of (non sentient) individuals possessing particular traits. Woodcarver itself is an
example of
genetic engineering - in it's case,
selective breeding. Woodcarver
inbred it's component animals to
emphasise the most admirable traits, and as a result is the wisest person inhabiting that planet.
Scriber takes a new member into himself on the
battlefield,
but not without concern: Scriber initially is composed of the
smallest number of members needed to retain sentience. When a member is
killed on the battlefiled, Scriber is joined by a single remnant of one of Flenser's soldiers, the first single animal the
mentally flailing Scriber encounters. The violence and lack of intelligence of the soldier "dog" is tempered by the
stability and
commonsense of the remaining animals comprising Scriber. This combination works out, but I feel it is inaccurate to say that Scriber did this with little concern. More to the point, I contest that Vernor Vinge's book "
A Fire Upon the Deep" contains a criticism of genetic engineering, but rather an examination thereof.