As the Commandant of the guard on an interstellar spaceship, Raven is responsible for the safety of everyone on board, including his own men and himself, and therefore is professionally suspicious in every new, unfamiliar planetary environment. The very fact that the Gwydiona are so pacific makes them unusual and therefore unpredictable:
"'If this Gwydion were remotely like any other lost colony I've ever heard of, there would be small reason for worry. Common sense alone, the knowledge that overwhelming power exists to avenge any treachery toward us, would stay them. But don't you see, when there is no evidence of internecine strife, even of crime - and yet they are obviously not simple children of nature - I can't guess what their common sense is like.'" (I, p. 550)
Raven's man, Kors, says that the Gwydiona are not to be worried about, harmless loonies with "'...no weapon more dangerous than a bow and arrow.'" (III, p. 566) Raven agrees that, according to the first expedition, the Gwydiona rarely hunt and then only for practical reasons, but adds:
"'That's what makes me afraid...,'" (ibid.)
Kors thinks that the Gwydiona are gutless but Raven notices that they take open sailboats onto dangerous oceans and that a Gwydiona girl is able to overcome her shock, to face him and ask questions. "...they were no weaklings on Gwydion..." (p. 571) so what were they?
The Time Traveler meets the Eloi but must learn about the Morlocks. The Namerican expedition meets the Gwydiona but must learn about their Night Face.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Your mention of Wells Time Traveler makes me think Anderson's Gwydiona combines elements of both the Eloi and Morlocks! In fact, more so. The Day Face Gwydiona were not weak, feeble, or mentally deficient, but intelligent and courageous. And they became far more dangerous than the Morlocks during the annual period of madness.
Ad astra! Sean
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