Physical features of Coffin's and Svoboda's descent into the Cleft are wind, water and lifelessness:
quick, violent, booming winds dash the rising, roiling fog against the men but do not disperse it;
there are trickles, rivulets, springs and waterfalls but no plants.
Regular Anderson readers expect the wind but should also notice the other features!
When Svoboda says something that his companion does not appreciate:
"Coffin clamped his jaws. There was stillness except for the rush and whistle of wind, the dripping and chuckling of water. When he had himself under control, he said in a flat voice, 'Why?...'" (p. 124)
As ever, wind underlines a conversational silence although this time it is accompanied by water. Coffin getting himself under control might read as though the narrative point of view has shifted to him but it has not. Coffin's effort at self-control is visible to Svoboda who remains the viewpoint character of this section. I prefer Svoboda's perspective to Coffin's but that is my judgement speaking. Poul Anderson shows us very different characters for us to assess or argue about.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
And I sympathize for both of the perspectives of Coffin and Svoboda, with sometimes different stresses. For example, they both agreed on the necessity of getting off this rock--and would oppose the despairing naysayers claiming any kind of interstellar travel is impossible. A view I agree with, as would Anderson.
Ad astra! Sean
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