As you know, I like to find comparisons and parallels between Poul Anderson's Technic History and his Time Patrol. In both Terran Naval Intelligence and the Time Patrol, an experienced officer "ments" a new recruit -
Max Abrams to Dominic Flandry:
"'Don't get above yourself, son. This won't be any pleasure cruise.'"
-Ensign Flandry, CHAPTER EIGHT, p. 80.
Manse Everard to Pummairam of Tyre:
"'I don't want you to get above yourself -' He chuckled. '... though are you ever below yourself?'"
-Poul Anderson, "Ivory, And Apes, And Peacocks" IN Anderson, Time Patrol (Riverdale, NY, 2010), pp. 229-331 AT p. 328.
Not getting above yourself is one important lesson. Both Abrams and Everard know how good a recruit they have found. Also relevant are van Rijn's conversations with Emil Dalmady and other employees.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Dang! I never thought before of how Manse must have become, to some degree, a mentor of Pummairam. And Old Nick came to think of David Falkayn as almost like a son to him.
Ad astra! Sean
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