We want the narrative to linger in some of the exotic locations imagined by Poul Anderson but the action has to move fast if it is to reach its resolution by the end of a not-too-lengthy novel. In CHAPTER SEVENTEEN, Targovi's group arrives on the island of Zacharia. At the end of this chapter, Kukulkan Zachary is urging Diana to pass on her genes... (That is not where the action is going to be, though.)
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN is an "interlude," if we can use that word without disrespect towards overtly more important characters, about Olaf Magnusson and Dominic Flandry meeting on the planet Sphinx. CHAPTER NINETEEN, returning to the main narrative thread on Zacharia, begins:
"The climax was violent." (p. 402)
Thus, events on Zacharia have proceeded directly from arrival to climax. After all the violence, Targovi, Diana and Axor will flee from the island, taking with them the military intelligence that they had come to gather, at the end of CHAPTER TWENTY. In a while, I will do a breakdown of how many chapters are devoted to each setting: Imhotep, Zacharia etc. Terra and Sphinx get one chapter each.
Tomorrow, like last Saturday, will hopefully involve a long day trip, this one longer, to London, setting of at 6:30 AM as against 8:00 AM. Please do not be surprised if there are no posts.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
That bit about Kukulkan urging Diana to "pass on" her genes was rather comical! And it made me wonder if Diana had any children in later years. Maybe she even asked Fr. Axor to officiate at her marriage!
Ad astra! Sean
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