Wednesday 15 April 2020

A POV At The Abbey

"The Snows of Ganymede," II, describes the Abbey on the Moon. The viewpoint character, Hall Davenant, returns the salute of two cadets while thinking that cadets are a nuisance because they always observe the rituals, obliging their seniors to respond accordingly. Then we are told:

"It did not occur to him that he had graduated only three years previously." (p.145)   

If this observation has not occurred to him, then it is not a part of his point of view. Thus, in this single sentence, the omniscient observer steps in to comment on Davenant before returning us to that individual's perspective.

We are about to learn about the Order of Planetary Engineers which has been mentioned twice before. The Order engineers neither societies nor individual minds but their planetary environments, also important in an sf future.

I have stayed with the computer to get some posts published but must now do other things and confidently expect it to be malfunctioning again when I return to it later this evening. However, it has been good to get to grips with "The Snows of Ganymede," Chapter V.

3 comments:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

I've tried to remember, do members of the Order of Planetary Engineers call their Chief or Director the ABBOT? That would be logical if their HQ was the "Abbey." Which makes me wonder if their Order has a religious orientation.

I've read of how Canadian engineers, on finishing their studies and receiving their degrees affirm or swear to a special "Call" composed by Rudyard Kipling to carry out their obligations as engineers ethically. And are then awarded iron or stainless steel rings worn on the little fingers of their dominant hands.

Kipling's poem "The Sons of Martha" was considered esp. apt for engineers. Another one might be his "The Hymn of Breaking Strain."

Ad astra! Sean

paulshackley2017@gmail.com said...

The Coordinator.

paulshackley2017@gmail.com said...

"Abbey" is just a nickname. As you can see, the computer is sporadically working again.