pp. 711-718: Laure converses with Jaccavrie;
pp. 718-724: he converses with Vandange;
pp. 724-736: he converses with Kirkasanters;
p. 736: his journey into the unknown begins...
"Serieve lay near the edge of the known. Kirkasant lay somewhere beyond." (p. 713)
Jaccavrie suggests that they discuss the mystery of the Kirkasanters because, even though she knows all the relevant data, discussion will help him to set his thoughts in order. He agrees to "'...run barefoot through the obvious...,'" (ibid.) a phrase used (more than once?) by Dominic Flandry. This is a transparent device to inform readers about the Kirkasanters.
When Vandange states at length that the interstellar medium is thin at the galactic edge:
"Laure suppressed his resentment at being lectured like a child." (p. 720)
But maybe readers needed to be reminded/informed about the thinness of the interstellar medium? These narrative devices are preferable to long lectures by the author, the omniscient narrator or just one knowledgeable character.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Exactly! Poul Anderson had to impart some scientific information for his story to make sense. The trick was to do so in such a way that it would not needlessly irritate any readers. I think, by and large, he succeeded in this and other stories.
Yes, I recall Flandry saying something very much like this "...run barefoot through the obvious" in A KNIGHT OF GHOSTS AND SHADOWS.
Ad astra! Sean
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