Cosmic And Historical Perspectives

In Poul Anderson's detective novel, Murder Bound (New York, 1962), the cosmic perspective, already noted, continues:

"So thin is the air that our unaided eyes can see a wisp at night which is a sister galaxy, two million light years remote." (p. 48)

That is the Andromeda Nebula already mentioned by name on p. 28. This time, however, Anderson, through his viewpoint character, Yamamura, goes on to present two other scientific perspectives:

"But the sea tides are ponderous enough to slow the spinning of the planet. The sea depths are eternal enough to shelter species that were ancient before the dinosaurs walked." (ibid.)

- knowledge of tidal friction and of dinosaurs. Yamamura concludes:

"...however queer a cosmos this was, you must live in it minute by minute." (ibid.)

How many fictional private detectives reflect on their place in the cosmos? This recalls Anderson's time traveling character, Manson Everard, reflecting that he does not understand the universe; he just works here.

In addition to such cosmological reflections, there is also a historical dimension. Published in 1962, the novel is set long enough ago for its characters still to have vivid memories of their World War II experiences. Pp. 38-40 present an unexpected flashback to interrogation by the Gestapo.