Genre
science fiction
Setting and Context
a futuristic 1992 in a futuristic America
Narrator and Point of View
Narrator: omniscient;
Point of view: third person
Tone and Mood
Tone: neutral
Mood: nightmarish
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonist: an engineer called Joe Chip; Antagonist: an entity taking over Half-life called Jory
Major Conflict
After a failed mission on Luna where their boss Runciter got killed, Joe Chip and his crew start to notice that the world isn't what it was before the mission.
Climax
Joe Chip discovers that he is the one who will take over Ella's place in Half-life and fight the evil entity Jory who maintains itself swallowing life.
Foreshadowing
"An image thrust itself into his agitated, fatigued mind: a bird caught in cobwebs. Age hung about the image, and this frightened him; this aspect of it seemed literal and real." -Chapter 7
-Joe Chip foreshadows the impending tragedy that will befall the most of the crew.
Understatement
Runciter said, "Sometime one never finds out. But as you say - it's the same as when ants find their way into your kitchen. You don't ask why they're there; you just begin the job of getting them back out."
-an understated use of a metaphor which signifies taking action before considering the consequences.
Allusions
"Throughout the cabin of the chopper, from a dozen sources, the sound of Beethoven's Missa Solemnis rolled forth sonorously, the many voices saying, "Agnus dei, qui tolis peccata mundi," over and over again, accompanied by an electronically augmented symphony orchestra." - Chapter 7
Imagery
Auditory imagery of classical music before a big turn in plot takes place is present in several instances.
Paradox
"What we deem an accident," von Vogelsang said, "is ever yet a display of god's handiwork. In a sense, all life could be called an accident." - Chapter 7
Parallelism
"Going into the bathroom, he splashed icy water on his face, combed his hair with a sanitary, free hotel comb, then, after meditating for a time, shaved with the sanitary, free hotel throwaway razor." - Chapter 8
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
""Right here, sir," a confident baritone like that of a Siamese cat declared; it arose from within a slender, earnest-looking individual, who sat bolt-upright in his chair, his hands on his knees." - Chapter 5
