OK. We begin to read the Wing Alak trilogy over Sunday breakfast after meditating and before walking to the gym so we will not penetrate very far into this first story this morning.
A planetary premier whips up his population over their telescreens, declaring war on the League government and its Patrol. He will lead the Galaxy and refers to:
"'...man's tortured history.'" (p. 157)
Thinking quickly, sf readers deduce that this story is set in a future period when human beings have long been settled on planets throughout the galaxy.
Our viewpoint character, listening to the premier's speech in his hotel room, is called Wing Alak, a name that discloses nothing. However, when he is arrested, Alak is addressed as:
"'Wing Alak of Sol III...'" (p. 158)
- even though he has been posing as:
"'...Gol Duhinator of Maxlan IV...'" (ibid.)
The alert sf reader is thus informed that Alak is an undercover operative from Earth - probably capital planet of the League. Maxlan has to be a star, the planet where this is happening is called Luan and Luan's immediate grievance is that the League has given Lhing to Marhal:
"'...as a political bribe...'" (p. 157)
- according to the enraged Premier, Tranis Voal.
Stay tuned.
(The NESFA volume is too bulky to carry to the gym. However, I have two paperback volumes to take to read over lunch after an hour of exercise.)
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