That was a long languorous chapter on the voyage. Now some commentary. Brower declares both father and son romantic reactionaries but votes for the nostalgia of the son over that of the father. Freeman’s techno-utopian linear evolutionary visions of Freeman are judged misguided.
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This story is full of colorful side characters, like Will Malloff, a weird frontier guy who ran a 1-person lumber mill and bred Rhodesian ridgeback dogs (lion hunting dogs) on Swanson island, where Luke Dyson met Anakin “Darth Orion” Dyson.
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“The Mallloff settlement testified to the energy that two isolated people...can unleash. Here, I could not help thinking, was the kind of small colony [Mayflower mode] that Freeman Dyson advocates.”
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This whole bit reminds me of the “Amazing Crusoes of Lonesome Lake”, also set in the region, which I read as a kid as a Readers Digest condensed book. Looks like British Columbia is the true last human frontier. https://www.amazon.com/Crusoe-Lonesome-Lake-Wilderness-Struggle/dp/B000GQMX1C …
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Damn. 2 other characters present, Ron and Julie Moe, are ex lighthouse keepers. I guess this breed had not entirely been automated out of existence in 1975
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Will’s grandfather was a Dukhobor. TIL file https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doukhobors
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Father-son moment: George: “What do you think about this idea of a radio? Some people think I’m crazy to want to put one in this canoe.” Freeman: “I think a radio in the canoe is a good idea. That’s what I like about you—you’re not a purist.” Next: paddle in a starship?
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Freeman says he’s working on theory of what holds galaxies together Daughter Emily: “epoxy” (which George swears by for canoes) Now that’s a good family joke
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George and Ken save 2 men from drowning on last day on Hanson island. This book is just endlessly eventful.
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Book closes with some wonderfully meditative and poetic short chapters. This whole thing has been an epic read.
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Ok done. That was a totally wonderful book, and I’m glad I read it in sips sitting on my balcony in a pandemic. Thank you
@andersen for the reco.Show this thread
End of conversation
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