Poul Anderson describes this scene only once but nevertheless generates a sense of solidity and history:
many-balconied mansions;
a plateau of Royal Hill;
the broad, slate-flagged Constitution Square with benches, flowers and trees;
in the center of the Square, a large fountain with a granite catchbasin and bronze statues of Toman Obilich and Vladimir in combat;
a view down to Lake Stoyan stretching beyond the horizon;
the sprawling, porticoed marble mass of the Capitol, an argent star on its gilt dome;
the battlements and banners of the Zamok/Castle above sheer rock;
antiquated dignified buildings of grey stone;
flapping capes and gleaming rifles of a militia squad on the Capitol verandah;
aircraft circling overhead.
A climax approaches.
Next week looks like being busier with less time for blogging. SM Stirling's The Given Sacrifice has been ordered.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
And I recall how Flandry, for a fleeting instant, reflected on how Constitution Square reminded him of similar scenes he had seen on other colonial worlds. Humans are infinitely plastic but they also have a hard core of ideas and things held in common.
Sean
Post a Comment