Unexpected Humour

"The Night Face," III.

The Nuevamericans, exploring their galactic sector, want a base on Gwydion. Elfavy says that one purpose of such a base would be to:

"'...rest their crews in greenwoods.'" (p. 573)

She does not understand why two soldiers laugh at this suggestion but:

"Raven himself would not have interrupted her naive recital for money." (ibid.)

We are told somewhere, although I cannot find it now, that Raven prolongs his conversation with Elfavy because he enjoys her company. Raven is written in such a way that at least some readers will dislike or disapprove of him but then we find him sympathetic. As with van Rijn, readers might disagree in their assessments of Raven. Another sign of good writing: characterizations are not simplistic.