Ray McCarthy
Sentient Marmite: The Truth may make you fret.
I didn't find it confusing at all. But then I've read LOTS of Harry Harrison (pity he's left us now). It is indeed a little like Harrison. Jan Kulozik in the To the stars trilogy, is quite unlikeable at first in Homeworld (1980), but by the end of the series I do admire him. Similarly "Jimmy diGriz" in A Stainless Steel Rat is Born isn't a typical hero / likeable person. I'm very fond of my Harrison stories, he in some ways I think beats Heinlen, Clarke, Asimov.
It likely needs tidied a little and 30m is seriously high off the ground for the lights unless they are to illuminate the trees etc and not just the road. Suburban street lights are not as high. Lights on a very broad 4 lane main city road might be that height. At a motorway intersection or roundabout they might be 40m though.
The falling description sounded odd, but maybe gravity is less, or his clothes are odd or some other factor I missed. Falling is really instantly fast and sore. I've done it. I don't recommend you experiment. I once jumped down nearly 2m to a hard surface. That was pretty sore too. Dropping on to soft turf from a higher tree branch in comparison was piece of cake, though foolish. I did some stupid things at least once each when a teen.
It almost sounds like he travelled the last part via some sort of portal device as the "exit" has "vanished." Perhaps this is clearer later or doesn't matter. Or it's all virtual reality.
Minor quibbles.
It likely needs tidied a little and 30m is seriously high off the ground for the lights unless they are to illuminate the trees etc and not just the road. Suburban street lights are not as high. Lights on a very broad 4 lane main city road might be that height. At a motorway intersection or roundabout they might be 40m though.
The falling description sounded odd, but maybe gravity is less, or his clothes are odd or some other factor I missed. Falling is really instantly fast and sore. I've done it. I don't recommend you experiment. I once jumped down nearly 2m to a hard surface. That was pretty sore too. Dropping on to soft turf from a higher tree branch in comparison was piece of cake, though foolish. I did some stupid things at least once each when a teen.
It must unbelievably massive, because even if the lights are shielded/reflectors fitted there would be plenty of spill and reflection. Unless the lights are very close together and bright (the forest would be lit like daylight with lights so high, though we have 60m high trees here, but they are BIG) so you can't see the wall above the lights?
It almost sounds like he travelled the last part via some sort of portal device as the "exit" has "vanished." Perhaps this is clearer later or doesn't matter. Or it's all virtual reality.
Minor quibbles.
