"In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son
of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of
Days and was led into his presence.
-copied from here.
As I understand it, a "son of man" is just a man whereas "one like a son of man," coming on heavenly clouds, means a supernatural humanoid being, thus not a man.
Bertram Davis has this Messianic status at the end of Poul Anderson's Virgin Planet:
"'Welcome,' said a voice. 'Welcome, Man.'"
- CHAPTER XIX, p. 147.
However, in contravention of fictive conventions, it is Davis' women friends that save him - and save the day - at the end, not vice versa. Perhaps the Messiah acts through his followers.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
It was part of the humor of VIRGIN PLANET that Anderson had the hapless Davis Bertram constantly being shown as totally unheroic, mever mind Messianic!
Ad astra! Sean
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