Many people, including Steve and Virginia Matuchek, fly to watch a space launch at Cardinal Point near Mount Taylor. (See image.)
These flying broomsticks really strain my willing suspension of disbelief:
the Matucheks have taken Virginia's "...Jaguar instead of the family Ford..." (p. 2);
they have "...left the windfield off except in front..." (ibid.);
they park it in a rack "...between a chrome-plated Cadillac and an old Honda with a sweep of withered but real straw..." (p. 5);
the Jaguar waggles its shaft because its sprite dislikes close quarters but calms down when Virginia soothes it while stroking its "...spotty-furry rear end..." (ibid.)
? In fact, !
The broomsticks are the magical counterpart of the ubiquitous aircars that we encounter in much of Poul Anderson's futuristic sf. The salient points are that:
like us, the characters have individual door-to-door transportation;
unlike us, they fly.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
You think some kind of CAR traveling on the ground would have been less of a strain? I can see that. All the same, if we are going to assume an alternate universe where "magic" is a practical form of technology, flying broomsticks and carpets are almost inevitable.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
It is a flying stick with these comfortable seats attached to it that is hard to accept.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
I know, but I would EXPECT "real" flying broomsticks to have such modern conveniences as seats, windshields, and headlights!
Ad astra! Sean
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