All of Dominic Flandry's supporting characters deserve recognition, especially when we have trouble spelling their names. When I worked in a Careers Office, a student on placement showed us his "hidden agenda," which included: "Identify the office cynic."
Lieutenant (j.g.) Flandry meets Lieutenant Commander Eisenschmitt, the cynic, or at least one of them, on Irumclaw.
Eisenschmitt's (I ought to spell it a different way each time) wisdom:
Irumclaw does not rate attention at GHQ;
such a base gets hacks, boobs and petty crooks for commanding officers;
good men are needed elsewhere;
they come to Irumclaw by accident and do not stay long;
the Navy will pull out soon;
local commerce is less profitable each year;
the saving will buy a dozen new Imperial palaces and harems.
No, it won't. Unlike the cynical Eisenschmitt, the pragmatic Flandry will turn:
"...the receding tide of Empire." (p. 204)
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
I agree, unlike the fatalistic Lt. Com. Eisenschmitt, Flandry was unwilling to succumb to despondency and, when the came, he strove to reverse that "receding tide of empire" on Irumclaw.
I also remember Flandry protesting to Eisenschmitt that abandoning Irumclaw would mean the Empire would have to withdraw the ENTIRE frontier for parsecs (at least ten or 12 light years), with baleful internal and external consequences. Because Irumclaw was a crucial anchor post for holding the frontier.
And that cover illustration for A CIRCUS OF HELLS you chose is one of the better ones I've seen!
Ad astra! Sean
Post a Comment