Inside:
coolness
dimness
anachronism
mahogany
marble
embroidered upholstery
deep carpet
maroon hangings
gold-stamped French titles on leather-bound books
molecularly perfect copies of paintings by Toulouse-Lautrec and Seurat
Shalten explains that these are souvenirs from his preferred setting, Paris of the Belle Epoque. Everard later visits Shalten's flat on the Left Bank in 1902. Time Patrolmen do not just travel through time. They travel to specific times that Poul Anderson evokes in meticulous detail.
6 comments:
That's a good point about their traveling -to- specific points in space and time.
The author Jack London lived in Oakland.
Mr Stirling,
Might Anderson have intended us to think of Jack London?
Paul.
Kaor, Paul and Mr. Stirling!
Long lived or quasi immortal persons like the Shadowspawn tend to be conservative in their tastes and styles. That is, they tend to "hold on" to what was popular or fashionable when they were young. Long after those styles had passed out of fashion. Adrian Breze's monstrous great-grandparents and great uncle Arnaud also preferred the "Belle Epoque."
Sean
It's only fairly recently that people have become conscious that historical change exists. Medieval artists showed Roman soldiers in the armor of their day, for example. Only with the Renaissance did people become conscious that things like dress and basic customs have varied through time.
In part this is because while there has always been change, it's generally been rather slow -- and in the absence of written or pictographic evidence, people tend over generations to forget that it has occurred.
Dear Mr. Stirling,
I agree! And long lived persons will often observe, often disapprovingly, how times have changed since they were young.
Sean
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