Saturday, 1 June 2019

Transonic

"The Star Plunderer."

By oratory, Manuel wins the freed slaves to an attack on Gorzun. He inspires them by naming the captured ship "'...- the Revenge.'" (p. 355)

Background technical details differ when a story was not originally written to fit into a future history. The Revenge comes off "...secondary drive..." (p. 357) and is hailed "...over the transonic communicator..." (ibid.) but Manuel speaks the language and has the codebook.

Gorzun, like Barsoom, has "...hurtling moons..." (p. 358) but three of them. Because of ERB, we associate hurtling moons with a barbaric planet.

The Revenge bombards Gorzun. There is now nothing to prevent Manuel from advancing and rising to the Imperial Throne. He and Kathryn will start a dynasty.

"'She will be the mother of kings,' said Manuel..." (p. 362)

3 comments:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

And Manuel's speech urging on and encouraging the freed slaves on the ex-Gorzuni ship reminds me of how Old Nick plagiarized Shakespeare to rally the Flock in a moment of discouragement during the war with the Fleet in THE MAN WHO COUNTS.

Sean

S.M. Stirling said...

Actually, really smart leaders don't interfere with other men's girlfriends. It's the surest way to get shot in the back years later -- political grudges aren't much compared to that sort.

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Mr. Stirling!

I agree, even if the woman concerned voluntarily left one man for another, most men are not likely to accept that with the philosophic resignation shown by John Reeves.

Sean