Through Death To Life

Anyone who has read Poul Anderson's "The Saturn Game" once a long time ago like maybe when it was first published will probably remember that it is about space explorers who lose themselves in a psychodrama but it is probably necessary to reread in order to recall important details like why it is so difficult but also necessary for Scobie to do what he does in order to bring the role play to an end. Broberg is forgetting her own husband and children. When Scobie/Kendrick says that he will die in the world that is, she thinks that he raves.

Scobie/Kendrick: "'Don't you want to remember Tom and your boys?'

Ricia: "'Who-?'"

Kendrick: "'I don't know. I have forgotten too.'"

Ricia: "'The residuum of an evil enchantment, surely. Oh, my heart, my life, cast it from you! Help me find the means to save us.'" (p. 69)

Ricia would dream a flying carpet while Broberg and Scobie died. Kendrick realizes that Ricia is indeed blinded and deafened by a magic spell and that the only way out of its darkness is through death, fortunately the death of the personae, not of their actors.

The stories in the Technic History are all different and all about people:

Jean Broberg married to Tom and friendly with Colin;

Jim Ching with his uncomprehending parents and supportive girl friend plus her father and his problems;

Peter Berg with his belief and his bereavement;

Coya Conyon caught between her grandfather, Nicholas van Rijn, and her "god (j.g.)," David Falkayn;

Christopher Holm, promiscuous with ordinary women but tongue-tied with fellow "birds."

Such stories need never end.