Poul Anderson creates a story set against an already established background:
A shortwave message relayed by a communications satellite to a groundside clearing station is received at the global HQ of the United States Robots and Mechanical Men Corporation (an Asimovian organization);
the message is seen and heard by a young technician, Henry Matsumoto (a new character);
Matsumoto calls Philip Hillkowitz, technological chief of Project Io (a new character and a new project);
Hillkowitz calls Albert Lanning, US Robots general director of research (an Asimovian character);
Lanning contacts robopsychologist, Dr Susan Calvin (an Asimovian character);
Calvin decides whether they need their best field operatives, Gregory Powell and Michael Donovan (Asimovian characters);
Powell and Donovan are transported to the Jovian System by courier, Svend Borup (a new character);
Borup would like to see Stephen Byerly (an Asimovian character) become coordinator.
A good mix of old and new.
Anderson also gives us a new Io: deep within the Jovian magnetosphere, this moon traps lethal charged particles. Further, its surface is cold, airless and covered with poisonous volcanic fumes. Only heavily shielded robots can mine there.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
That mention of Borup hoping Stephen Byerley would become "coordinator" reminded me of this bit from Section 2 of "Delenda Est," one of Anderson's early Time Patrol stories: "Coordinator Stantel V," said Van Sarawak faintly. In the thirty-eighth century. The Great Experimenter--colonies reproducing past societies--"
Also, mention of "Stantel V" also reminded me of how Asimov had several of the Emperors of the first Galactic Empire named "Stanel." So, Anderson's use of "coordinator" and "Stantel" seems like some bits of influence from Asimov.
Ad astra! Sean
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