Solcintra
In which Tor An reads Cantra such a scold as she hasn’t heard since nursery.
I think I’ve said already that one of the things that amuses me about the duology is getting to see Solcintra as it was, not as the Liadens fondly remember it being. Though there are bits that sound familiar – there’s already that obsession with High Family status and, as I also think I’ve said already, that us-and-them mentality. (Speaking of which, the fact that they count smartstrands as a them thing neatly explains why the Liadens don’t have them.)
Cantra’s observation that the ship Jela’s given her could carry “the keepings of a small planet” is a nice bit of ironic foreshadowing.
Tor An bailing Cantra out is another of the incidents that had previously appeared as a chapter-heading quote in Scout’s Progress. In the logbook quote, Cantra describes him as acting “all according to co-pilot’s duty”; what that brief excerpt from the logbook didn’t reveal is that this is the first time she’d accepted him as her co-pilot. (I don’t remember which chapter it was the heading of; I’m going to be interested, when we get up to Scout’s Progress, to see if there’s a reason why that particular chapter was matched with that quote/this incident.)
Tor An won her respect, I think, via that scold.
Yes, a little ironic foreshadowing.
Yes, the old Solcintrans had a high nationalistic opinion of themselves, largely without cause, and it probably got worse when the service clans became high house. Tor An was reflecting on how the Socintra library was filled far more with local minor news than major galactic news. That reminded me of how the Clouncil of Clans didn’t really want to hear what every other clan and guild thought about Plan B’s attack on Solcintra, or what the DoI had done at Nev Lorn, Surebleak space, etc. They just swept it all aside and made their judgement. As Miri sarcastically thought, “Don’t wanna be confused by information.” (slt)
In this chapter, doesn’t Rool visit Cantra, after she takes a shower?
In this chapter, Rool only appears briefly, doing the dramliz-converse-enigmatically-about-the-future bit with his lady. Also, Cantra doesn’t take a shower.
That might well be next chapter: I wouldn’t be surprised if Cantra does take a shower when she gets back to her accommodations, considering the mess she was in when Tor An fetched her.
Ok
I wonder how old Tor An is (and how old Cantra is). Cantra sees “boy”, that is for sure. Tor An acknowledges that “she was his elder in years and in skill.” Everyone has respect for grandmothers, if not for each other.
Regarding the extremely brief dramliz interlude, we find this: allowing them to fully experience the galaxy. I note this only in my continuing attempt to compare references to “galaxy” versus “universe.”
yeah….
@Paul, in the OP: a nice bit of ironic foreshadowing
Why? What makes it specifically ironic foreshadowing, as opposed to simply foreshadowing?
I call it ironic because Cantra presumably intends the description as a piece of exaggeration, and isn’t aware that it will soon become a literal truth.
Ah…got it.