"Unwalled, the tavern was protected from rain by a vitryl canopy through which, at this height, stars could be seen regardless of the electric lunacy below."
-Poul Anderson, The People Of The Wind IN Anderson, Rise Of The Terran Empire (Riverdale, NY, 2011), pp. 437-662 AT VI, p. 505.
We read the "lunacy" on p. 500:
"(GROG HARBOR, DANCE, EAT, GENUINE TERRAN SENSIES, FUN HOUSE, SWITCH TO MARIA JUANAS, GAMBLING, NAKED GIRLS, LOANS, BUY...BUY...BUY...)"
Avalonians are either human or Ythrian. Human Avalonians will be attracted by anything that is genuinely Terran.
"Thunderheads piled in the east, and a rank breeze carried the mutter of the lightning that shivered in them." (p. 505)
Thunderheads and lightning are seen. The breeze is felt and smelled. The mutter is heard. Thus, four senses in one sentence.
"Insectoids circled the dim fluoroglobe set on every table." (ibid.)
We are grateful that the narrator refers to "insectoids," not to "insects," on an extrasolar planet.
"Business was sparse..." (ibid.)
War is imminent.
"...a few shadowy forms perched on stools..." (ibid.)
"...forms..." because the clientele may be human or Ythrian. The latter perch.
"...before glasses or narcobraziers..." (ibid.)
I googled "narcobraziers" and found this passage on-line. Braziers emitting narcotic fumes?
"...a service robot trundling about, the recorded twangs of a steel harp." (ibid.)
Robots, standard sf props, remind us which genre we are reading.
2 comments:
Though prototypes of service robots for restaurants are actually in development.
Kaor, Paul and Mr. Stirling!
Paul: I was amused by the "electric lunacy" you quoted! I've seen almost exactly the same kind of garish neon lit signs in places like Las Vegas.
And Christopher/"Arinnian's" constant disparaging of human beings and human customs, irritates me!
Mr. Stirling: Now that interests me, prototypes of service robots to be used in restaurants are being developed!
Ad astra! Sean
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