"A sentry opened fire. Heim dove for dirt. A bullet splintered rock before his eyes." (p. 56)
Why do I quote this? It is one necessary dose of Andersonian action, of course. Heim takes desperate measures to rescue his kidnapped daughter. His action works far more smoothly than such an exploit probably would have done in real life but it cannot be allowed to go on for too long because it is necessary to return to the main plot of the novel.
This chapter mentions an "inept" (p. 58) Russian Republic. We learn more about Earth in Heim's time and also continue to see hints of our own reality as well.
So far, The Star Fox has been full of Andersonian ingredients, including a self-driving flying car. When the privateers leave the Solar System, we will be treated to yet another scientific rationalization of faster than light flight. After that, it will be action in space. The attached cover illustration shows a Naqsan, the other main alien species in this novel.
4 comments:
A well-planned assault often works fairly smoothly because it uses surprise. Surprise magnifies force because it psychologically dislocates the one surprised, and people in that state of mind are prone to panic and irrational action.
Hence the success of ambushes.
Note: very highly trained troops often 'break an ambush from within'. That requires very good discipline, extensive training and cool nerves.
Kaor, Paul and Mr. Stirling!
Paul: I was puzzled by the illustration because I had forgotten about the Naqsans!
Mr. Stirling: One example I thought of was of how that Imperial patrol Ivar Frederiksen and his friends tried to ambush in THE DAY OF THEIR RETURN was broken precisely because the Marines were so well trained, preserved discipline, and kept their nerves.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean: Yeah, that's a good example. The same thing happened a number of times in the American invasion of Iraq.
It's not a matter of individual courage, but of drilled-in teamwork.
Another example of how crucial cooperation is to conflict.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
And the only reason the Rogaviki defeated Sidir's well trained and disciplined army in THE WINTER OF THE WORLD was because the Killimaraichans lured the Rahidians into a trap which did break their discipline, drilled in cooperation, and nerve.
And I believe the Rogaviki will eventually be broken by an enemy who have these qualities while they remain unable to learn such skills.
Ad astra! Sean
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