More On The Pathetic Fallacy And On Exploitation

In Poul Anderson's The Shield Of Time (New York, 1991), Aryuk's daughter, oppressed and made pregnant by the invaders, dies and loses her baby in childbirth. Immediately after this:

"Afar, a mammoth trumpeted. The wind loudened. This was going to be a cold summer." (p. 193)

The invaders are mammoth-hunters. A mammoth trumpets their triumph. This will be a cold summer for Aryuk, whatever the weather. The pathetic fallacy yet again.

The issue raised here is addressed, although I think inadequately. One of Aryuk's sons wonders how the invading Cloud People find time to build "...great huts of stone, turf, and hides." (p. 188) Aryuk replies that they kill large animals that feed them for many days. Yes, but Aryuk's people do not make large kills yet now spend many days serving the invaders who want brought to them over many days' journey:

good stone for tools and weapons;
peat and dung dried for burning;
pelts;
dried fish and blubber.

Aryuk protests that the invaders require so much that the aborigines can hardly feed themselves. I would say instead that they would be unable to feed themselves. The Time Patrolman who is with the invaders does point out to them that they can get nothing from the natives if they cause their deaths. Instead, the invaders must give their new subjects fish hooks, spearheads and clothes. Of course, they do feed Aryuk and his sons when this small group arrives laden with goods - but it is not enough. The Tulat would surely be unable to survive such treatment.

(I must exercise this afternoon and practice Latin this evening.)