Following the style of Robert Heinlein's Future History, Jim Ching addresses his readers as if they were his contemporaries. Referring to the then-recent Festival of Man, he writes:
"Doubtless you remember the line of argument the promoters used..." (p. 180)
That Ching is writing soon after the events that he describes in this story is made clear by his concluding sentence. The story has culminated with him being offered a Polesotechnic League apprenticeship and:
"I collapsed into Betty's arms. She says she'll find a way to follow me." (p. 197)
His acceptance of the apprenticeship and his departure from Earth are still in the future not only of the events of the story but also of his narration of the story.
Hloch, the editor of The Earth Book of Stormgate, informs us that this story is an extract from Ching's life-long reminiscences. That does not quite fit with Ching, as first person narrator, addressing an audience in the second person - or do some diarists address their reminiscences to an imaginary audience?
Centuries later, Hloch as editor also addresses his contemporaries:
"To screen a glossary of obscure terms, punch Library Central 254-0691.
"Hloch of the Stormgate Choth
"The Earth Book of Stormgate"
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
I can imagine James Ching writing an account of the events recorded in "How To Be Ethnic In One Easy Lesson" very soon after they occurred, and then later incorporating the story into his reminiscences without thinking it necessary to revise it.
Merry Christmas! Sean
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