After its two-page Introduction, the narrative of "Territory" begins on p. 3 but we do not learn that Nicholas van Rijn is present until p. 6. Inside the mission dome on t'Kela, Joyce has locked the door that connects her room to van Rijn's because she has had to fend off his ursine advances by day.
When, because the dome is suddenly under attack, she unlocks the door, he rolls through, a head taller than the tall Esperancian woman, his shoulders filling the door, his pot belly straining his suit, survival equipment all over him, looking even more monstrous than usual, large hooked nose jutting out from his open helmet, ringleted shoulder-length hair swirling, waxed mustache and goatee resembling horns.
David Falkayn and Dominic Flandry are conventional heroes. Van Rijn is not. At this stage in "Territory," we might think that he is the comic relief and not realize that he is also the central character.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
I always seem to smile or laugh a little when I remember "Territory." In some ways it was a very funny Old Nick story! Anderson delighted in making it easy to underestimate van Rijn and then showing how badly mistaken it was to think like that.
David Falkayn and Dominic Flandry might be "conventional" heroes, but my belief is that Flandry was more deeply thought out and fleshed out by Anderson than was the case for Falkayn.
Ad astra! Sean
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