Poul Anderson describes the first space battle in the war between Terra and Ythri as experienced by:
Imperial Admiral Cajal in the superdreadnaught, Valenderay, named after the supernova that nearly wrecked Merseia;
Second Marchwarden of the Lauran System, Daniel Holm, at home in Gray on Avalon;
First Marchwarden Ferune in the superdreanaught, Hell Rock, named after the site of an ancient Ythrian battle;
Lieutenant Philippe Rochefort and his crew in their Meteor-class boat, Hooting Star;
Vodan in his torpedo launcher, the approximate equivalent of a Meteor, emblazoned with three golden stars.
All of these characters have already been introduced. We know where each of them stands on the issues.
9 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
And both of the younger officers, as military personnel are wont to do, are shown as having some on leave relaxation and whoopee! With that irritating Christopher Holm scandalized that a "noble" Ythrian could slack off.
Ad astra! Sean
As the old saying goes, "War taps you on the shoulder and whispers: hurry! in your ear."
My father met my mother in 1941, married her a month later, and my eldest brother was born in 1942.
She'd been dating a tail-gunner in a Lancaster bomber. The bomber came back, the tail turret didn't...
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
I used to know, online, an ex-RAF officer who said similar things about wars making people hurry up.
Memory eternal for that tail-gunner!
Ad astra! Sean
For that matter, my mother's father met my grandmother (a wartime nurse) in a convalescent home, and they eloped. To Peru, after the war.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
IIRC that "eloping" was because both families did not approve of the marriage.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean: yes, they both disapproved strongly. My grandmother's family thought she was marrying beneath her, and my grandfather's family thought she was useless. Actually she -was- useless, but I've seen pictures of her in her 20's and she was absolutely gorgeous.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
Family discord can "sometimes" be grimly amusing, with both sets of inlaws finding common ground in their disapproval!
Ad astra! Sean
My grandmother turned the management of the household over to my mother when she was eleven (and my aunt was 9). OTOH, my grandfather was a useful man -- an energetic (and decorated) young officer, and then a ship's engineer for the rest of this life.
My mother was always intensely practical. I think that was partly in reaction to my grandmother, who was drifty and dreamy.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
And you reminded me of Kipling's poem "The Sons of Martha," about how we need practical people who can handle every day life and problems.
Age 11 is disturbingly young to be forced to grow up so fast.
Ad astra! Sean
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