Note: Spoiler for Heaven's Reach in the last paragraph of "Analysis." (the
paragraph begins "Finally.")
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Chapter 11: Et Two Toots
By: John D. Giorgis
Also: Jeroen van Baardwijk, Josh Bell, Russell Chapman, John Garcia, and
Steve Sloan
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Title:
This title is an allusion to Julius Ceasar's famous "Et tu Brute?" This
suggests either a betrayal or a massive outbreak of flatulence in this
chapter. Alas, neither happens. So, what gives?
"Toots" (where the "oo" is pronounced like it is in the word
"book") is a slang nickname for a woman. So, a hardboiled
gumshoe in a 'forties movie might say to a woman next to him,
"Hey, Toots, can you spare a light?" I'm guessing the Princess
is "Toots", and any "betrayal" is more of a gentle, joking kind. -Steve Sloan
Or, perhaps its more like "You too, Toots?" - referring to Linnorra
becoming more adept at Dennis' "wizardry." - John D. Giorgis
Analysis:
In this chapter, the L'Toff deploy balloon warfare to hold off Baron
Kremer's armies. Dennis and his gang employ some serious practicing to
escape from one frying pan after another, first turning their cart back
into a glider, and then inventing the propeller. Hoss'k's party
escorting Brady to to Baron Kremer is ambushed. Dennis's propeller-craft
forces a complete retreat of Baron Kremer's troops.
The first section describes the first battle of the balloons by the L'Toff.
I find this an interesting description because in our planet's history,
as far as I know, balloons have but single footnote in our military history
- a brief use as sentinels in the American Civil War. Their usage is so
minor, that they aren't even included in Sid Meier's Civilization II as a
major technological advancement. Brought back "in time", though,
figuratively speaking, they litterall change the course of history.
Anyone have any other examples of inventions that never hit it big in our
history, but in another timeline might have much more signifigance?
"IIRC, balloons were also used in Europe during WW1 by both sides to keep
an eye on enemy troop movements." - Jeroen van Baardwijk
"Airships - powered balloons served as both observation and combat
platforms in WWI and saw limited service as aircraft carriers/tenders.
Apparently a jet engine was tested on a biplane just after WWI (and crashed
into a wall before takeoff) but didn't catch on until much later. No
references to cite, alas. Pick up anything by James (The Day The Universe
Changed, Connections)Burke. The number of "almosts" is stunning." - Josh Bell
"During the American Civil War (aka War between the States) tethered balloons
were used by the Union Army for surveillance and artillery spotting. During
the
First World War (aka the 1914-1918 European War) tethered balloons were
used for the same purpose. This dismayed military leaders on both sides so
much that
fixed wing aircraft were tasked with shooting them down (which they did
spectacularly). Rigid airships (Zeppelins) were used by the German Imperial
Navy
as long range bombers. They could fly higher than the fixed wing aircraft
and so
were invulnerable. Unfortunately, the Royal Flying Corps figured out how to
fly
their aircraft at the Zeppelin's altitude and had great success in shooting
them
down. During the Second World War (actually the 1939-1945 European War)
unmanned tethered balloons (aka Barrage Balloons) were used to cover
important targets in Britain. The idea was to present obstacles to low
flying dive bombers and the like. The US Navy tried to use rigid airships
in the 1930s as aircraft carriers,
but the airship's instablity in rough weather (both airships were destroyed in
storms) and the almost impossible task of retrieving launched aircraft
while the
airship was flying nixed that idea. the US Navy was very successful using
blimps
in anti-submarine patrols during the Battle of the Atlantic. No convoy
escorted
by a blimp ever had a ship torpedoed by a U-boat. back in the late 80s
early 90s, someone at the Navy Department tried to revive the old airship
idea, at least until someone with knowledge of Naval Aviation history
remembered the Shennandoah and Akron (the two airships that were lost in
the 30s). that idea went down the tubes rather quickly." - John Garcia
"During WW2, Japanese forces launched thousands of automated balloon bombs
across the Pacific, "aimed" at the US mainland using a timing device to
control ballast.
A few links:
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/history/wwii/jbb.htm
http://aviation-history.com/garber/vg-bldg/balloon_f.html" -Josh Bell
In the second section, Brin makes an allusion to the human ability to
"telescope time" during times of crisis as the cart-craft teters on the
edge of the cliff. This ability for humans to experience time at
different rates will form the basis of his later short-story "The River of
Time."
The following is from Russel Chapman, mistakingly writted in reference to
Chapter 8 previously:
"I thought that the way Dennis met Orville, Amelia & James Doolittle during
the felthesh trance was a typical Brin affirmation of human ingenuity. Yes the
Practice Effect can create a flying machine, but we as the human race were
able to do it with conventional laws of physics. This celebration of our
ingenuity
is one of the things that make Brin books such a good read."
(out of curiosity, I think that our hero meets *four* aviation pioneers
during his trance, can anyone name them all?)
Consider for example the following passage on page 243:
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"Progress," the gangly fellow grinned. "Boy, yousure are doing it the easy
way, fella. It took us old-timers years and plenty of sweat to get this
far, I'll tell you!"
For the first time in this crazy dream, Dennis thought he understood what
someone was talking about. He recognized this man's face. "Uh, I know.
I guess you really could have used the Practice Effect back in your day,
Colonel."
The officershook his head. "Naw. It was a whole lot more fun doing it
for ourselves, even if it *was* slower. I only ask that the universe be
fair, not that it grant me any special favors." ........."Just remember
my boy.*Nothing* substitutes for hard work!"
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On page 244 Dennis goes on to muse: "Such men and women were the heritage
of Earth. By pluck and ingenuity they had carved miracles out of reality
--- the hard way." This last sentence I think, provides a single theme
statement for most of the rest of Brin's writing career. No matter what
"shortcuts" the universe seems to offer, be it The Practice Effect, the
Great Library, powerful Patrons, or an extensive familial Clan - nothing
else substitutes for the miracles form pluck, ingenuity, or hard work that
has been the story of human civilization so far. It will be interesting to
look for this theme in The Kiln People - but I can bet that it will be there.
The power of mythology plays an important role in this Chapter. First,
though, I noticed for the first time that the whole place has a very
"German" feel to it - which is not uncommon for allusions to Medieval
Times. Names like Kremer, Stivyusung, and Russik all sound very Central
European, and have little English, French, Spanish or Italian flavor to
them. Is there a reason why Medieval Germany seems to be the source of
so many of our legends.
Finally, Dennis wins the victory of the day in large part by tapping into
the mythological tradition of the Coylians - and their legends of dragons.
He is helped by a timely unfurling of the Royal Flag, which also features
a dragon. (As an aside, Brin again sticks it to formulaic sotry-telling
here - instead of this representing the "cavalry" arriving just in time to
clean up the spoils, as in so many stories, it is merely a small band of
Scouts *playing* the part of the cavalry.) There are other examples
from Brin stories where victory is achieved by playing into an enemy's
mythological traditions? At least one of these is in the finale to
Heaven's Reach, where Gillian taps into the Galactics' legend of the
Progenitors' return. Are there others? In any event, this seems
consistent with Brin's theme that mythological traditions are more of a
liability than a benefit to believers, by constraining one's thinking and
making one ripe for subterfuge.
Notes:
-on page 245, I suspect that Brin plays fast and loose with the laws of
physics by permitting the glider to fly and bank, even with the Sahara Tech
Exploration bot hanging from its nose. Anyone have a different opinion?
-On page 247, Brady says that he was sent over by Flaster. On page 248,
Brady says the he is talked into volunteering by "Gabbie."
-Also on these pages, Brady is developing a bizzarre theory about how this
is all an elaborate practical joke. Yet, earlier he hinted to Dennis that
the Law of Entropy is reversed on this place. You would think that given
that information, he might be quicker on the uptake.
__________________________________________________________
John D. Giorgis - [EMAIL PROTECTED] - ICQ #3527685
"Never tiring, never yielding, never finishing, we renew that purpose today:
to make our country more just and generous; to affirm the dignity of
our lives and every life." - George W. Bush Inaugural Address 1/20/01
__________________________________________________________
John D. Giorgis - [EMAIL PROTECTED] - ICQ #3527685
"The point of living in a Republic after all, is that we do not live by
majority rule. We live by laws and a variety of isntitutions designed
to check each other." -Andrew Sullivan 01/29/01
