See previous discussion here.
My previous discussion did no justice to "Outmoded Things." This story is an authentic and powerful sequel to Poul Anderson's "The Queen of Air and Darkness." I first read it and Terry Brooks' sequel (still to be reread) hastily and summarized their plots briefly but these were inadequate readings of both stories.
"Outmoded Things" should be read immediately after reading or rereading Anderson's story unless the reader has a very good memory for the details of the latter. As a sequel, Kress' story follows logically and fits perfectly. Every detail of the Rolandic environment is accurate. We would like to read more about Sherrinford and Barbro. Instead, Kress tells us about the rescued children and the adults who must cope with them. We learn the children's original names. We also learn more about the Rolandic natives. Anderson had told us that they were lean, scaly, long-tailed and long-beaked. Kress repeats this but adds that they have:
two small arms;
two legs built for speed;
flat faces;
two eyes in front;
another eye on top because there used to be aerial predators -
- not contradicting but significantly enhancing the original, as a sequel should.
We also learn that at least one native cares for the girl that she had raised and visits her without projecting the illusion.
The boy, Mistherd, original name Terry Barkley, was disillusioned with the natives in Anderson's story. Consistently, he remains entrenched in his disillusionment in Kress' sequel.
Most emigrants to Roland came to preserve a way of life. They have their places of worship and there is a small chapel without symbols for meditation or silence. That is the one that I would use. Luke, the children's therapist, goes there and finds that Shadow-of-a-Dream, original name Carolyn Grunewald, has placed a bouquet of firethorn and driftweed on the altar. He has a brief vision but we are not told what till later. Dr. Cardiff who has examined the brain scans of rescued children says that damaged children can modify neural connections in ways that adults cannot but we do not learn the significance of this till later. Shadow-of-a-Dream has gained the native power to cast illusions. More importantly, she and another girl, Anne, are mature enough to regard the illusions not as deceptions but as meaningful fictions, like the readers of this story. Anne challenges her mother's faith in God as an illusion. Teenagers mature quickly on Roland.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
I know I should reread Nancy Kress' "Outmoded Things," but what struck me as most implausible was Shadow-Of-A-Dream/Carolyn being said to have gained the Rolandic natives ability at casting illusions. Because we see NOTHING in Anderson's story about the humans kidnapped by the natives having any kind of telepathic or psi abilities. I think I would conclude, the next time I read the story, as being too jarring to be plausible.
Sean
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