Dirzh In 538 A.C.C.

See "Time Lag."

Poul Anderson's "Time Lag" is divided into five sections:

522 Anno Coloniae Conditae: is set on the planet Vaynamo and in space;

538 A.C.C.: is set in the city of Dirzh on the planet Chektoi;

553 A.C.C.: is set on Vaynamo;

569 A.C.C.: is set in Dirzh;

583 A.C.C.: is set in space near Vaynamo.

In 538
Bors Golyev and Elva have an apartment with three cramped rooms and a balcony, considered luxurious;

their single domestic servant can at any time be returned to, and replaced from, street level;

when Bors has company, Elva is confined to the sleeping cubicle;

Dirzh stretches toward the horizon in every direction;

it is mostly "...immense gray blocks..." (p. 121) although with a few shining steel and glass spires;

to the east, there are mines, chimneys and desert;

elevated roads carry robo-freight or client pedestrians wearing gray;

aircars carry patrons;

dust, smoke, fumes and vapors hide the streets;

an odor of acid and rotten eggs rises through thick air to the balcony;

in underground caves and tunnels, workers tend machines and criminal packs carry weapons;

Chertkoians who can afford to chain-smoke do;

their entertainment includes multi-sensory films and live combat;

the single large moon is visible but neon and thick air hide most of the stars.

Dirzh reminds us of Niyorek. (See also Niyorek II and Down The Shaft.)

Next post: Dirzh in 569 A.C.C. (Expect deterioration and decay.)