Thursday 25 January 2024

Two Conversations On Avalon

The People Of The Wind.

Chapter IIDaniel Holm And Ferune In Ferune's Office

Twice while confiding with Ferune about his problems with his son, Christopher, Holm looks out the window of Ferune's office. We know from what we have already read that he is seeing, although maybe not noticing, the view of Gray and Falkayn Bay. On that Bay, a cargo vessel had been coming in from Brendan's Islands. Now Holm mentions the Shielding Islands where Christopher had hidden for a year. Where are these islands?

Chapter III describes the single large northern continent, three much smaller southern continents and the Oronesia archipelago and adds:

"All else consists of far smaller islands." (p. 464)

Chapter XI informs us that the Brendan's, Fiery and Shielding Islands are to the south and east of Oronesia. Western Coronan and Northern Oronesian defence cooperation has extended to the whole archipelago and it is hoped that it will next extend further to integrate these islands.

Chapter III: Christopher Holm And Tabitha Falkayn On St. Li

"'Hello, Christopher Holm,' she said in Anglic.
"'I come as Arinnian,' he answered in Planha. 'Luck fare beside you, Hrill.'" (p. 465)

Ythrians do not entreat deities but do wish for luck.

This dialogue should be filmed with Tabitha speaking English and Christopher speaking Planha with subtitles. Or maybe Tabitha should speak Anglic with subtitles?

She says that the Terran Empire has grown since Manuel the First. Thus, Manuel Argos from two instalments previously has become a historical figure like David Falkayn. The latter can also be referred to without being named. Later in Chapter III, Imperial Governor Ekrem Saracoglu summarizes Avalonian history, including the detail that the planet was colonised by:

"'...humans, a mixed lot under the leadership of an old trade pioneer...'" (p. 476)

Tabitha also mentions that the Cynthians voluntarily joined the Empire, thus increasing our already existing knowledge of that inhabited planet. History permeates everything that is said. 

1 comment:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

For all practical purposes filmed versions of the Technic stories will have to use our English as the Anglic used a thousand years from now. And that was different enough that Flandry mentioned reading a translation of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's poem "A Musical Instrument."

And was startled when Aycharaych quoted from that poem!

Ad astra! Sean