We must remember that, in this period of the Psychotechnic History, the word "boat" refers to a flying equivalent of a private car. We read an action-adventure sequence as Naysmith and Jeanne escaped from the Federal police in Naysmith's boat. Then he and she informed us about the history of the UN and its enemies with their dialogue in the boat. Now we read about where they are going:
"He zigzagged over Washington, crossing into British Colombia above an empty stretch of forest." (p. 56)
"The boat swung east until it was following the mighty spine of the Rockies, an immensity of stone and forest and snow turning gold with sunset." (pp. 56-57)
Never a dull moment and Anderson always takes time to describe the scenery. We saw a different role for the Rockies in his Technic History. See Flandry's Office.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
I should have commented that Naysmith's discussion with Jeanne was an example of the science fictional use of "infodumps," a phenomenon peculiar to the SF genre. Mainstream literature set in the here and now seldom need to plop down such big lumps of information in them. Sometimes they make for awkward interruptions of the story. I think Anderson came to handle infodumps better in later stories and series.
Ad astra! Sean
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