Creusa, one of the Aenean moons:
"...glimmered ever more bright, waxing while it climbed eastward. A pair of wings likewise caught rays from the hidden sun and shone gold against indigo heaven." (p. 77)
Gold against indigo: it sounds as if Aeneas is a good place to go for a walk at night. But Ivar Frederiksen is not out for a walk. He is waiting to ambush and kill Imperials. The contrast between the beauty of nature and the works of men could not be greater. Poul Anderson describes both and leaves his readers to draw their conclusions, if any.
Nature is indifferent. Moons would wax, wane and shine if no one was there or whatever the intentions of those who are out at night. Ancients and human beings have walked on Aeneas in different eras.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
At least here we don't see Anderson's puzzling and idiosyncratic use of "glades"! (Smiles)
Ad astra! Sean
Tho' if you subscribe to the anthropic principle, events don't really happen unless there's a consciousness to witness them.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
Now you are reminding me of the Anglican Bishop Berkeley, IIRC, he wondered if trees fell if nobody saw them falling. But we know things like falling trees and earthquakes happens even if nobody witnessed them!
Ad astra! Sean
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