I don't remember whether I have noticed this error on any previous reading. Jean Broberg addresses Colin Scobie. Then:
"'H'm.' Broberg raised a hand to stroke his chin, encountered his helmet, and sketched a grin at himself. 'Sounds reasonable...'" (p. 21)
Broberg? His chin etc? Obviously this is Scobie responding to Broberg. But four characters - Danzig at the other end of a radio link - converse without a viewpoint character so it can be difficult for a reader to keep track, especially when three of the characters also have role-playing identities. Poul Anderson tries to get his readers interested in the composition of the Iapetan surface and does it through these complicated conversations.
A hardworking American sf fan at a World Con once told me that he wanted to relax completely when he was reading a book. Later, I read a review that said, "If you want to relax while reading, then don't read James Blish." The same could be said of Poul Anderson.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
I agree, Anderson hoped many, indeed all, of his stories would make their readers think. But he soon learned how to also make his stories entertaining, so they would also want to read them. In addition some of Anderson's were also meant to be primarily entertaining, humorous, even comical. Examples being "A Bicycle Built For Brew," "Pact," "Peek! I See You!," and the Hoka series coauthored with Gordon Dickson.
I know you don't much care for the Hoka stories, but even they have some Upper Case Serious Points and ideas!
Ad astra! Sean
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