-"Margin of Profit," p. 83.
"'You wonder why I tell you what you know, ha?' [van Rijn] said."
-Poul Anderson, "Esau" IN Anderson, The Earth Book Of Stormgate (New York, 1979), pp. 102-130 AT p. 106.
Van Rijn tells Dalmady what he already knows because he has to tell the readers as well but he can't say that: a transparent literary device that should not be over-used. See also here. Sf writers need a range of ways to impart background information.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
A transparent literary device? I agree, but it does make sense as well in real life. That is, sometimes it's for two or three persons to make sure everybody knows what they should know before going on to new ground.
Ad astra! Sean
Actually, restating known facts is quite common in introducing new ones -- to give context, and to ensure that everyone's starting from the same point. It's particularly common in meetings and briefings.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
And that does make sense.
Ad astra! Sean
Post a Comment