Just when it seems that "Territory" is going to be nothing but gun fights between van Rijn and the t'Kelans, Joyce explains t'Kelan ecology and evolution, which we have discussed before. See here.
Poul Anderson effortlessly passes from action-adventure space opera to serious, speculative hard sf. It is to be hoped that readers interested in the latter will not have been put off by the opening pages devoted to the former.
Years ago, I reread and posted about this story while on holiday with family in the south of England so personal memories intrude which will be different for every reader. Rereading yet again, we repeat previously made points but also notice other details for the first time.
This time, I cannot quote, "High is heaven and holy," because the t'Kelan environment is more like Hell.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Some readers, if coming to Nicholas van Rijn for the first time in "Territory," might be more likely to be put off by his comically ursine buffoonery. And not so much by action adventure oriented space opera. "Territory" is a good example of Anderson's ability to seamlessly merge several different types of stories into one: humor, action/adventure, and serious speculation.
Ad astra! Sean
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