The text alternates. Sometimes, Jack Havig presents a first person account to Robert Anderson. Then, Anderson presents a third person account to his readers. We enjoy these shifts of time and perspective.
On a picnic from the Eyrie, Leonce summarizes some future history for Havig. She is of the Glacier Folk about a hundred and fifty years after Havig has joined the Eyrie. A century after her time, the Glacier Folk have joined the Northwest Union which is in Orion Shall Rise.
Leonce is of the Ranyan kin, a gang of related families, which belongs to the Wahorn troop. A Sherf leads a troop in killing cattle for Gawd, Oktai and the other Those. The annual Congers of Sherfs and others from troops is run by the Jinral who is of the Rover kin which is of no troop. On Hermes, the Duke or Duchess is of the Tamarin family which does not own a domain. On Merseia, the Roidhun is of the landless Vach Urdiolch. In the US, the federal capital is not in any state.
Back later.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
I remember that conversation with Leonce, and of how she did not want to go back home, because life there had become too peaceful and boring.
Plainly, a "sherf" is derived from our "sheriff." And the "jinrals" elected from among the Rover family took the title from our "general." And "Congers" came from "Congress."
What we see from Anderson's descriptions of Hermes, Aeneas, Dennitza, the Glacier Folk, Merseia, etc., makes me wonder if he thought having heads of state selected from using a mixed elective/hereditary system (alongside a strong legislative body) might be a good idea in real life.
Ad astra! Sean
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