Action Scenes

Starfarers, 40.

I have reread to the point where Brent has mutinied, has killed his ally, the "Judas," Cleland, and is now being hunted by the rest of the crew. This reminds us of similar fight and chase scenes inside a spaceship in "Brake," the concluding instalment of the first section of Poul Anderson's Psychotechnic History. We feel that this is an obligatory Andersonian action scene and we are keen to return to the part of the narrative that deals with communication with the quantum intelligences near the black hole. 

I cannot remember for certain but it now looks as if seven of the ten explorers will return to the Solar System. Kilbirnie has plunged into the black hole and Cleland has been shot by Brent who will soon be killed, we hope. We can say things about fictional characters that we cannot say about real people. In real life, I would want Brent to be restrained and challenged about the consequences of his actions. He would respond by calling me a stooge of the tyrant, Nansen.