After Thirty-Five Years

Poul Anderson, New America, "A Fair Exchange."

We read a beautiful account of autumnal colors and a busy street in Anchor, then learn that:

Dan and Eva have lived by Lake Moondance in the lowlands for thirty-five years (twenty Terrestrial) and have the largest lowland plantation;

they have had three children that can live in the lowlands although their fourth, just born in Anchor, will have to be fostered in High America;

their son, Joshua, is old enough to have had a "...first love..." (p. 92);

Rustumites no longer try to maintain traditions like Christmas;

Dan, speaking for the lowland settlers in High America, now fixes political instead of just technical problems;

we will learn more about the politics as the story proceeds.

The four Rustum stories in New America, published in just two years, race through the life of Daniel Coffin. Maybe this is how the gods see our lives - or would if they existed.