Wednesday, 7 November 2018

A Meal On The Moon

Poul Anderson, Harvest Of Stars, 26.

Arren, Isabu and Kyra travel in a bus-sized car from Port Bowen to Zamok Vysoki, Rinnaldir's private stronghold in the Cordillera, a journey of about twelve hours. The car has fuel cells inside and a combined radiation shield and solar energy collector on struts above. Fluid between the car's metal body and an outer hyalon shell changes its pattern of light and dark, thus regulating temperature.

The interior is so luxurious that, when Kyra traversed the airlock, I initially thought that Anderson was already describing their destination, Zamok Vysoki:

undulating, opulent red and black carpet, seemingly alive;
sheening paneling;
intertwined enamel and inlay patterns;
phosphorescent drapery and upholstery;
backless Lunarian seats and a table;
mobile abstract art on a partition concealing sleeping quarters etc;
moving air with changeable odors;
background music -
- three senses.

I have said before that, although the Lunarians spend their entire lives inside artificial environments, they deploy considerable energy and ingenuity to make the environments both spacious and dynamic.

Snack
coffee;
brandy;
vinegar-flavored cakes.

Dinner
stir-fried fish, vegetables and fruit;
seasoned bread;
white wine.

Like us with "Indian," Kyra finds the Lunarians' own food different from what is served in restaurants. 

1 comment:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

Lunarian living arrangements reminded me of how the elves lived in THE BROKEN SWORD, except in a more technologically advanced, science fictional way.

I'm not sure I would have cared for VINEGAR flavored cakes. Vinegar would be a rather strong, tart flavor.

Sean