"Those who were staying at the Pleistocene lodge made for the common room, exuberant and loud, to celebrate." (p. 358)
This sentence captures a good feeling, when an individual is part of something greater than himself, especially when the something greater has just been successful or victorious: a team that has won a match, a political party that has won an election, a trade union that has won a dispute, an army that has won a battle. I have not experienced that fourth example. I had some of this feeling this morning, rising early to mobilize with others for a particular action while also looking forward to a conference in London next weekend. And who knows what shape this country will be in just a week from now?
The following sentence:
"Everard wasn't in that mood." (ibid.)
- captures the experience of an individual who is surrounded by exuberance but has private reasons for not joining in the celebration. All human life is there, even in the Time Patrol. In fantasy and sf, the situations are fantastic but the human responses must be authentic.
5 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
And I read in the printed version of NATIONAL REVIEW of how PM Boris Johnson only SURVIVED a vote of no confidence by his fellow Tories. Many Conservatives are angry at the leftward drif of their party. They too are not exuberant!
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
But I can't get excited about the PM (here) or the President (there) being in political difficulties! That has been happening all our lives. It is one of the ways that the system manages and incorporates dissatisfaction. Lots of dissatisfied people are consoled by the thought that the current head of government will soon be ousted or will be defeated at the next election. But the system doesn't change unless a lot more happens than just a change to who lives in 10, Downing St or the White House.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul! Of course I agree that this kind of angry dissatisfaction is better than people settling their differences by fighting civil wars. IF all sides and factions remains willing to accept the results of elections. My concern is that has been becoming less and less the case since 2000, which is when the Democrats challenged and tried to nullify the election of George W. Bush. Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
I think that Trump's attempt to deny and overturn an election result was even more blatant and destructive!
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Personally, yes, but as a matter of strict LAW, no. For that I suggest reading Andrew McCarthy's articles. And I'm forgetting the Russian collusion smear cooked up by Hillary Clinton and the Democrats in 2016.
Ad astra! Sean
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