With swords and axes, the Englishmen kill the mostly unarmed alien crew, taking only one unconscious prisoner:
"The ship's artillery was ready to use, but of no value once we were inside." (p. 14)
The entire novel is like that. Not knowing any better, the English attack, then (mostly) plausible factors work in their favor. But this has to be a self-contained narrative - there is one short sequel - because such unlikely events cannot be fitted into any longer historical or future historical series.
At the end of this chapter:
"[Sir Roger's] eyes grew thoughtful as he stared at the ship." (p. 15)
As well they might.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Baron Roger's thoughtfulness reminded me of S.M. Stirling's CONQUISTADOR. John Rolfe VI had, by complete accident, discovered an alternate Earth. And what did he do? Did he go running to tell Uncle Sam what he had found? No, like Sir Roger, John Rolfe decided to be bolder and see what he could make of his discovery. And I can't help but think the Commonwealth of New Virginia that Rolfe founded and ruled was probably better than anything the US was likely to have set up.
I think Sir Roger and John Rolfe would have understood each other very well and gotten along fine!
Sean
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