Iff replied that the Plentimaw Fishes were what he called 'hunger artists' - 'Because when they are hungry they swallow stories through every mouth, and in their innards miracles occur; a little bit of one story joins on to an idea from another, and hey presto, when they spew the stories out they are not the old tales but new ones. Nothing comes from nothing, Thieflet; no story comes from nowhere; new stories are born from old - it is the new combinations that make them new.
Iff explains that the Plentimaw Fishes are akin to 'hunger artists' because they consume stories when they are hungry. Through their unique process, these fishes take in various tales and ideas, merging them within themselves to create entirely new narratives. This transformation allows them to regurgitate fresh stories that are different from the originals, demonstrating the notion that creativity is largely an amalgamation of existing concepts.
This idea emphasizes the belief that all stories stem from a foundation of previous tales. Instead of emerging from thin air, new narratives arise from the innovative combinations of old ones. Thus, the act of storytelling is portrayed as a dynamic and interconnected process, where the past feeds the imagination to generate new meanings and insights.
