Keiller noted that gold had been virtually mined out everywhere except on Zerok, where it was relatively abundant. It was bought by many people, including the Federation who used it as currency in fringe deals with "frontier planets lacking computer link-up". Gold was ferried from Zerok to Earth on the pleasure cruiser Space Princess, albeit listed as a consignment of fruit. At the mine on Zerok it was rendered temporarily worthless by a computer-coded process as an additional security measure.
A gong was sounded in the church on Cygnus Alpha as Vargas prepared to sacrifice Gan.
Derogatory epithet, used by the space rats in reference to Dayna and Vila. Originally used by U.S. military personnel, referring to the people of South-East Asia.
A neutral planet which Blake visited in search of Lurgen. The atmosphere was toxic: Jenna observed that prolonged exposure would "rot your lungs eventually", suggesting that sulphur dioxide was present and Jenna did specifically mentioned sulphur. The population lived largely underground, although trees were plentiful on the surface. Rats were seen underground. Docholli described the people of Goth as "a crude lot", and the technology there was unsophisticated. Weapons included swords and spears, although the crossbows used by many warriors fired bolts that exploded on impact. "We are a warrior people," said Gola at one point, a statement difficult to deny. Goth was ruled by a king or Charl, probably inherited through the male line (though Tara appeared to assume rule once both her brothers were dead).
The planet was visited by Blake, Jenna and Vila. Servalan and Travis had arrived some days sooner. Named Goths were the royal family: Gola, Rod and Tara. Tara passingly mentioned the "Lost Time", possibly implying early colonisation from Earth, but no meaningful details were given.
Tok, the proxy bidder on Domo, took bids for Avon from Natratof of Gourimpest. Gourimpest may have been a planet, city, race etc - exactly what was never specified.
Various references suggest that Federation society was stratified into four or more grades: Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta. Blake was an Alpha, and Vila claimed to have grown up in the "Delta service grades". Coser was a Beta class/Beta grade technician (both terms were used). No-one was ever stated to be Gamma.
Other references are based on occupation, probably independent of a social stratification system. Rashel was a labour grade slave (specifically, a bond slave), and she also spoke of the "free grades". Councillor Joban mentioned labour grades. Jarvik had resigned his captaincy to join the construction grades, and he later referred to troopers as the security grades.
If nothing else, it would seem that Federation society was distinctly grade conscious.
| Sarkoff owned a gramophone, on which he played Tommy Steele's Singing the Blues and Kathleen Ferrier's Blow the Wind Southerly. | |
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A Federation agent, code-named Bartolomew. Anna was first mentioned in
Countdown, when Avon met her brother Del. Del had sworn to kill Avon,
believing him responsible for Anna's death, but Avon managed to convince him
that he had been unable to rescue her. In Children of Auron Avon admitted that Anna had "meant a lot" to him, and that he planned to kill the man responsible for executing her. Rumours of Death supplied more details: Anna had been working with Avon on his fraud scheme - after he had been shot by the man supplying exit visas for himself and Anna, Avon had been forced to lie low for a while, only later finding out that Anna had been arrested and had died under interrogation.
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In actuality, Anna had been assigned to monitor Avon, in the belief that his
crimes were politically motivated. Anyone he came into contact with was
brought in for questioning. Anna apparently staged her own death to conceal
her secret identity: Del definitely believed that she was dead.
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Very few people knew that Anna Grant was Bartolomew. Chesku certainly did not, at least according to Servalan, and Del Grant appeared to have no idea. A "controller" from Central Security that Shrinker interrogated for the rebels did know, but died before he could reveal any details.
On meeting Avon in the cellar of Servalan's palace, Anna professed her love for Avon (whom she addressed as "Avon"), adding "I heard there was someone with Blake but I didn't know for sure". When questioned by Avon, she claimed to have run to "her husband" when Avon disappeared after being shot (although if genuinely married at the time she had retained her maiden name). This husband, she said, knew she didn't love him. Her dying words, after being shot by Avon, were: "I let you go, my love".
In flashback, Avon admitted that he trusted Anna, with the rider "I'm afraid I do", revealing the depth of feeling he had for her, and possibly (probably?) she for him. Many possibilities are hinted at in what various people said about Anna/Sula/Bartolomew, but very few real facts are to hand.
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A mercenary, responsible for a revolution on Arcos and called in by Cauder on
Albian to overthrow the Federation's control of the planet. The garrison was
defeated under his command of the rebels, but not before the solium radiation
device was activated by Tronos. When Blake arrived, Grant recognised Avon
instantly. Avon believed until then that Grant was dead (Grant also believed
that Avon had himself died). Having some knowledge of timing devices, he
worked with Avon to disarm the solium device.
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 | Del was Anna Grant's brother, and believed not only that she was dead but also that Avon was, albeit indirectly, responsible, having left with the exit visas before he knew Anna was dead. He appeared to have a very anti-Federation attitude, and was thus perhaps not completely mercenary. He did demand a high fee for his services, but apparently because his reputation (and ego) demanded it. |
When Tarrant was persuaded to perform calculations for the Thaarn on Crandor, he was given a pencil. He referred to it as a graphite writing stick, adding that he had never seen one outside a museum. Avon was seen using a pencil a few minutes later. Quite how the Thaarn got hold of a box of pencils is not specified.