Stray Breeze And Sundown

"The Sensitive Man."

Dalgetty argues that misused psychodynamics might lead to a "'...total state [that] could never be overthrown!'" (VI, p. 176.

In response:

"Elena Casimir bit her lip. A stray breeze slid down the rock wall and rumpled her bright hair." (ibid.)

My point, of course, is that here yet again the wind, or in this case a breeze, underlines a pause in the dialogue - a pause for thought. Aeolus, god of the wind, is overworked in Poul Anderson's fictional universes.

"Sundown burned across the waters, and the island rose like a mountain of night against the darkening sky." (VII, p. 177)

Yet another colourful description of a sunset. Narrative-wise, Anderson could have left out all such descriptions although they immeasurably enrich his texts.

There has been a dramatic escape and chase scene but I am focusing on what I regard as the more lasting aspects of Anderson's prose.

"The Sensitive Man" has had a lot of cover illustrations and I am trying to highlight them all here.