Summary:
Maia's continues to communicate with Renna, but then disaster strikes when
Tizbe returns to take Renna away. Of course, by the end of the chapter
there are even more surprises.
Analysis:
We have another unsigned introduction, although the context makes clear
that the author of the intro is Lysos. Still, I wonder if there is any
significance to this change, or if it is simply author fatigue.
Maia's naivete strikes again as she tells her entire Life story to Renna.
Maybe it will have no ill-effects, but when you are investigating the mob,
spilling your guts to everyone you meet is hardly an advisible tactic. :)
The suaveness gap is emphasized when Maia notes that Renna is intentionally
misspeeling messages to try and keep Maia's mind sharp and her spirits up.
The question, of course, is now that Brin has set up Maia being incredibly
naive at every turn, when is this flaw either going to bite Maia in the
butt *or* be resolved by Maia growing up?
As Alberto noted earlier, all Stratoians are bisexual - in keeping with
their peculiar notion of the sexes as separate species. Some heretics,
however, believe that same-sex relations should not be physically
consummated. Nevertheless, same-sex attraction, known as "hearthness"
seems to be nearly universal on Stratos. "Hearth feelings" are subject of
music and books in popular culture, and female-to-female prostitution
establishments being widespread. What is most interesting, however, is the
idea that "attraction" seems to have a strong genetic component. In a
world of clones, the Lamais appear doomed to all experience the same
progression of attractions with clones from other clones. Although the
idea is cute, I have to say that I find it implausible. My suspicion is
the attraction has much more of an environmental component than genetic.
When Lamai clones are younger, they all seem to go through a set of
"crushes" determined by the genes of the Clan founder, starting with older
clone-sisters, moving to clones in allied families, and finally a
particularly intense period of "crushing" on a member of a rival clone
family just before reaching adulthood. The last experience seems to be
particularly devastating for Lamais, causing them to forswear
"hearth-relationships", giving them a bit of sterness in their character,
and causing them to seek sexual fulfillment only from men and prostitutes.
One recurring Brin theme is how the hero, even in the midst of a grand
adventure is forced to contemplate his or her ultimate insignifigance in
the grand scheme of the universe. Maia has such a moment on page 266. I
guess that IAAMOAC also means recalling that I am *just* a member of *a*
civilization in a really big and inanimate (uncaring) universe.
Finally, Maia's feelings for Renna seems to confirm Maia's place as
something of a revolutionary in Stratoian society. Earlier, it was noted
that Maia was having the very unusual thoughts of possibly loving a man.
Now, it turns out that the first love/hearth-feelings of her life were
directed not towards a woman, but towards a man.
Notes:
-Renna calls the Life-Game the "universal computer." (pg 258) This will
probably be important later.
-A cute insult used on Stratos: "Go to Earth!" (pg 264)
Clans:
-Trevor and Wheatley, allies of Lamai (pg 261)
-Yort-Wong, merchant clan, rivals of Lamai (pg 261)
-Venturist? Venture? - a clan of radical activists (pg 265)
Questions:
-Earlier I assumed that Thalla and Kiel had played a role in handing over
Maia to the Bellers? Is it possible that this is inaccurate, and only the
older Clan-Mother was involved? Or perhaps Thalla and Kiel had no idea
who the "second prisoner" they were rescuing was until it was too late.
-How did the Visitor get to the middle of, literally, nowhere?
-Why is the Visitor dealing with Odo?
__________________________________________________________
John D. Giorgis - [EMAIL PROTECTED] - ICQ #3527685
"Our campaign against international terrorism does not represent some
sort of 'clash of civilizations.' Instead, it is a clash between
civilization and those who would destroy it." -Amb. Richard N. Haass
