Valduma's telekinetic taunting of Donovan is like telepathy or like a conflict in Donovan himself. She sets the wild life that he could have had with her against the domesticity that he will have with a human wife. He could have become a god or a demon but instead will become fat and grey. Thus, this pulp story reflects on human life and age. Donovan defends the doggedness with which the Terrans have resisted the Arzunian attacks but acknowledges to himself that he does not really believe his own fine words. Thus, the conflict continues within Donovan. Poul Anderson puts more even into pulp space opera than we might have expected.
Of course the remnant of the Ganymede crew will escape from Arzun but the issues that have been raised remain.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
The problem with the kind of "wild life" Donovan was being tempted with is that it was simply not practical. It still boils down to life being "nasty, brutish, and short" for almost everybody.
Ad astra! Sean
Post a Comment