Chapter IV both introduces the character of Philippe Rochefort and informs the reader of Ythrian evolution through a canned lecture by a human xenologist that Rochefort plays in his space boat;
Chapter V both introduces the characters of Matthew Vickery and Liaw of the Tarns and informs the reader of the Ythrian choth and Khruath system through Daniel Holm's reflections after Liaw has shocked Vickery by saying that he had threatened to call Oherran on three choths that had refused to support defense measures.
The text is fact-packed.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I remember that "canned lecture." A classic example of what SF fans call "info dumps." One of the characteristics of SF is how authors sometimes have no choice but to interrupt the narrative flow of a story to impart to readers information they need to know to better understand the tale. I think Anderson manages, most times, to smoothly integrate such interruptions into his stories.
Sean
Sean,
He does it well in this case. We get a lot of info and also the three crew members' reactions to the lecture.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
He does! I recall how the Cynthian was interested in the lecture but not the third crew member.
Sean
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