Disappointment, sort of:
odd numbered chapters 1-41, unentitled, are set in the narrative present of the novel;
even numbered chapters 2-40, each entitled "The Mother of the Moon," are flashbacks to the much earlier time of Dagny Beynac and immediately after - Dagny dies in 38 and her download ends its conscious existence, so it thinks, in 40;
chapters 42-46 are just in the present - the flashbacks have ended, although download Dagny will speak one last time.
History addresses later generations although usually not literally in the voice of the dead.
Kaor, Paul!
ReplyDeleteUmmm, you meant "ODD NUMBERED chapters 1 to 41," not "even numbered." And EVEN NUMBERED chapters 2 to 40," not "odd numbered." Apologies for being picky!
Sean
Sean,
ReplyDeleteI generally get things to do with page numbers wrong.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I've wondered why you thought the ending of THE STARS ARE ALSO FIRE some thing of a disappointment. Was it too inconclusive? Too many loose ends? If so, I would argue that was because there was still so much Anderson wanted to say about that "timeline" that he would need two more volumes to do so.
Sean
Sean,
ReplyDeleteI was disappointed that "The Mother of the Moon" ended earlier than expected.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
ReplyDeleteThat clarifies what you said, which I thought a bit puzzling.
Sean