The first person narrator of this story has a curious status. First, she is not named in the story. It is the Earth Book compiler, Hloch of Stormgate, who afterwards informs us that her name is Maeve Downey, that she is a planetologist and that this story is an extract from her autobiography, Far Adventure. (An evocative title.)
Secondly, she is not involved in the action that she recounts. Three explorers descend to the surface of the newly discovered terrestroid planet. They are a xenologist, a pilot and a gunner and therefore do not include the planetologist.
Thirdly, her narrative uses the techniques of fiction, describing events from the point of view of the pilot and informing us of his reactions and feelings. This does not surprise us because we know that we are reading a short story written by Poul Anderson but Hloch's Avalonian audience does not know that!
The story presents information about several members of the Olga crew and I propose to outline and discuss this information but that will have to wait until after a visit to the gym. Life continues in Lancaster as well as on Ythri.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
We learn about the events in "The Problem of Pain" by a narrator whose identity, unlike that of Maeve Downey, remains totally unknown.
The first Grand Survey must have begun very soon after the invention of the FTL hyperdrive in the early 22nd century.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
Yes. The narrative structures of these four opening stories:
"The Saturn Game"
"Wings of Victory"
"The Problem of Pain"
"How To Be Ethnic..."
- are all complex and interesting even before Hloch adds another narrative layer.
Paul.
Kaor,. Paul!
I agree. Also, it's a pity we don't have a story featuring the Second Grand Survey.
Ad astra! Sean
Post a Comment