Tuesday, 1 September 2020

Foreshadowings

An author knows where his narrative is going as a first time reader does not.

"Heidhin grinned. 'I know the Romans better than you, my Edh.' Did she wince? He hastened on: 'I mean, I have dealt with them and theirs, I, a war chieftain. The goddess says little to you about such everyday things, does she?'"
-"Star of the Sea," 3, p. 499.

The reader does not yet know that Edh has been known by a group of Roman sailors.

"Eventually I may or may not make my dream of joining the research staff at Darwin Station. It can't take many scientists; or another dream could come along meanwhile and take me."
-Poul Anderson, "The Year of the Ransom" IN Anderson, Time Patrol (Riverdale, NY, 2010), pp. 641-737 AT 10 September 1987, p. 642.

It will. She will join the Time Patrol and study more than fossils:

"Mammoths and cave bears and dodos, oh, my!"
-25 May 1987, p. 735.

Theron Ware says:

"'Marlowe to the contrary, misery does not love company.'
"'Baring his teeth, Baines said, 'We'll see about that.'"
-James Blish, Black Easter IN Blish After Such Knowledge (London, 1991), pp. 319-425 AT p. 336.

Baines will commission Ware to release the major demons from Hell without restraint for an entire night.

No comments: