In Adzel's shack:
"Two scrolls hung on the walls, one showing a landscape and one the Compassionate Buddha." (p. 65)
In a question and answer session, the Chinese postgraduate student who attends our meditation group asked, "Why do you have scrolls showing Bodhidharma and Kanzeon behind your altar? Those two figures are not usually associated in China."
What a question! One that I would not have known to ask. The answer was, first, that they are associated in our tradition and, secondly, that, when the group started, someone gave us two scrolls and they happened to be of Bodhidharma and Kanzeon. I could see that he liked that second answer. This is a domestic detail in the Solar Commonwealth that resonates with my current experience: scrolls.
The Riefenstahl's apartment overlooks the Golden Gate where crews work to replicate the bridge. In the living room, Betty punches for coffee while a full-wall transparency shows city lights, the Moon with cities visible on its dark side and a few stars. More welcome domestic details although too few.
Earlier sf writers took the trouble to get to the Moon. In later future history series, cities on the dark side are part of the background. Stars, of course, mean not just lights in the sky but somewhere that Jimmy wants to go. He contrasts the no-longer-existent San Francisco Chinatown which was probably regarded as picturesque with:
"(Oh, treetop highways under the golden-red sun of Cynthia! Four-armed drummers who sound the mating call of Gorzun's twin moons! Wild wings above Ythri!)" (pp. 60-61)
That reflection summarizes quite a lot of the Technic History.
12 comments:
Other intelligent species would sort of re-define "exotic"...
Kaor, Paul!
One thing I recall from "How To Be..." was Adzel being surprised when James Ching said he was living in a high crime neighborhood, stating that no one had tried to bother him! Ha! As tho anyone would want to attempt hassling someone as alarmingly formidable looking as Adzel.
Testing.
Ad astra! Sean
Yeah, experience of crime depends a great deal on your appearance.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
It can be useful to look fierce and ferocious--even if you are not in the least ferocious!
Ad astra! Sean
Or to carry a weapon. Criminals tend to be good at spotting those, and go somewhere else.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
Which is why I never believed the fairy stories about Robing Hood only attacking the rich and well armed and leaving the poor alone. Bull twaddle! Sensible bandits attack those weaker than them, not well armed travelers who can put up a tough fight,.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean: OTOH, robbing the very poor is a loser's game. They don't have any money.
There was the 20th century robber who when asked "why do you rob banks" replied "that's where the money is".
A wise answer.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling and Jim!
Mr. Stirling: That is true, I admit. So I can see bandits attacking even well armed travelers--as long as the victims are outnumbered.
But the poor will often still be attacked, not so much for the small amounts of money they have--but for the "fun" of raping, torturing, and killing them.
Jim: The problem with robbing banks is how they have become harder and harder to rob--with the sums snatched from bank tellers being rather small.
Hope this uploads.
Ad astra! Sean
Also, cash is becoming obsolete -- I can go months without spending any.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
I know, but I'm old fashioned! I prefer cash, at least for the smaller expenses of everyday life. Also, I distrust credit cards--because I've read so often about people who got crushed by huge debts with high interest payments due to irresponsible use of these cards.
Hope this uploads.
Ad astra! Sean
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