Ensign Flandry reads in part like a juvenile adventure novel. Flandry is nineteen. When the Seatrolls attack:
"He was too excited to be scared." (CHAPTER FOUR, p. 35)
When he is about to go underwater as a part of a team to open negotiations with the sea-dwellers, he tells Dragoika:
"'Wonderful adventure. I can't wait.'" (CHAPTER SEVEN, p. 68)
I remember thinking that combat, like maybe flying over London in the Battle of Britain, would be exciting. Of course, Flandry soon sees the effects of combat.
OK. Maybe that second experience would be an adventure for someone who does not mind being submerged. Dragoika knows only that, where Flandry is going, there will be no sun, moon or stars but only blackness, cold, enemies and horrors. Flandry soon learns what their environment is like to the sea-dwellers. The novel is partly an example of the sf travelogue sub-genre.
7 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I never thought before of ENSIGN FLANDRY as a travelogue, but I see your point. And the travelogue aspect gets stronger with Flandry soon accompanying Abrams to Merseia as his aide.
Ad astra! Sean
And travelling around Merseia with Tachwyr etc.
Kaor, Paul!
And that as well. And Flandry gave some thought to going to Alfzar after escaping Merseia.
Ad astra! Sean
I've talked to a number of people who've been in very dangerous situations, and most of them say that during intensive action they're too busy to be scared -- that comes before or after.
Martial arts deliberately calculate this state of mind -- 'muga', it's often called, after a term meaning 'non-self'. You're emotionally detached, you know what to do, and you do it.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
But doesn't "muga" take intense and hard experience to truly master? I doubt a rank beginner like me could be so intensively on doing what needs to be done in the non-self mode in a similarly dangerous situation the very first time.
Ad astra! Sean
Are the people who don't go into 'muga' in such situations less likely to survive?
"Survivorship Bias"
Kaor, Jim!
Yes, imo, less likely to survive. It seems obvious to me that dangerous situations of this kind needs utterly focused attention and willingness to do what needs to be done to survive.
Training can drill in the habits and reflexes needed for handling danger.
Ad astra! Sean
Post a Comment