Here's some visual references that might help you with pedipalps:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedipalp

I always visualize them like the ones on a spider, which haunt my dreams, but I think in the Rookieverse they're a little bit longer and muscular like their other appendages.

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Gutter Sistren whipping boy, innoventor of words, Life Coach to the Damned.

Scott does a great job of teaching football to the layman, but all of that is really secondary to the awesome story that's being weaved in the GFL series.
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I thought BigJohn beat me to it, but I can do better!!  Check out the Sigler wiki for some fan-drawn representations of the alien races in the FDO's books.  There's also a drawing of a Quyth Leader here, which is conspicuously absent from the alien races page.

Also, "the reader" is the FDO himself.  He reads all his podiobooks.  Just don't laugh at his female voices... at least not to his face! 

* * Head Biker Babe & [flickr-photo:id=4891502501], Dead Sexy Dealer, The Juicer, Co-Founder of the Gutter Sistren & Proud Member of GirlCo. * *

Those pics are going to haunt MY dreams!!  Thanks a lot!

* * Head Biker Babe & [flickr-photo:id=4891502501], Dead Sexy Dealer, The Juicer, Co-Founder of the Gutter Sistren & Proud Member of GirlCo. * *

Ok, so it has too many eyes. But the fur is right-ish. :P Both this pic and the other are missing a set of limbs. But don't you just want to hug Orko the Trollan?

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Gutter Sistren whipping boy, innoventor of words, Life Coach to the Damned.

the look in his eyes says that hand is half-wrist deep.
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I agree. I wouldn't have the first clue about American Football (as a non-sports-watching Aussie) and I really struggled with it, at first. Kept going back and re-reading, and checking tutorials, trying to work out who was doing what. But in the end, I decided it simply didn't matter (to me) if what I was picturing was 'correct'. If it sounded like the guy was running down the side of the field, then he was. What do I care if that real-life position doesn't go near the sides of the field?

I'm sure it would be much easier to read if you're familiar with football jargon, and that aspect certainly slowed me down. Ultimately, the story is much more important than the gameplay, so that's what I decided to focus on... and I still managed to picture some awesome, action-packed games of whatever-the-hell-it-was in my head.

[flickr-photo:id=4730034487,size=m] ~S&N Bouncer and Official Hitwoman for the Gutter Sistren~

...assume a basic knowledge of American Football and sports-based American vernacular - but that's completely understandable (and OK!) coming from an American writer. I don't like it when Aussie authors 'dumb down' for an international audience and I don't expect international authors to do it, either.

I'm really glad I stuck with it and I'm glad you did, too! I've recommended these books to a number of Australians and the first thing I say is "Just ignore the American Football references in the blurb - you don't need to understand/like football to enjoy the story". Apologies to Scott if that sounds rude, but the story is emotional and complex and just as rewarding without football knowledge. :)

[flickr-photo:id=4730034487,size=m] ~S&N Bouncer and Official Hitwoman for the Gutter Sistren~

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I can only make one person happy each day. Sorry, today's not your day. Tomorrow's not looking so good either.