Chapter Seven
“‘“...misleads them until it is too late.”’”
The most obvious interpretation is made by Helen Graham shortly after this passage is read, that Horace is responsible for them being lost and unable to locate their new home.
However, if this quote is considered in conjunction with a future quote in chapter twelve it takes on a more ominous tone for the future of the Graham family beyond the events of Nick and the Glimmung.
“‘“...join the horned klake, the enemy of us all.”’”
Considering the situation in Galactic Pot-Healer where the werjes seem to be on good terms with Glimmung it is possible that this betrayal by the werjes will either occur sometime after the end of Nick and the Glimmung or somewhere after the events of Galactic Pot-Healer.
It is interesting to note that the passage says “‘“horned klake’”’ instead of horned klakes as it was said in chapter three. Assuming this is not a typo, there are three possible explanations; the first is that the word klake and klakes are interchangeable words for the plurality of that species. The second one would be that a horned klake is a specific kind of klake, implying there is a non-horned variety. The third would be that it is referring to one specific klake that will lead a conflict against all of Plowman’s Planet and the werjes will join that particular klake.
“‘...on neither side.’”
A possible explanation for the wubs being neutral can be found in the ending of Beyond Lies the Wub in which the titular alien is killed and consumed despite its protests. The captain eats its meat only for the wub’s consciousness to take over the captain’s body.1 If the wubs of Plowman’s Planet have a similar trait, it would serve to keep both Glimmung and the Grand Four from attacking them, leaving them mostly free to roam.
“‘Money is nearly worthless here.’”
Except for the wubs, there seems to be no actual financial structure set up yet. It must be a trading-based economy.
“‘I didn’t believe it existed.’”
Although the book One Summer Day is never brought up by name, there is a possible allusion to it in Galactic Pot-Healer. Towards the beginning of the novel the Earth phone encyclopedia refers to “‘a peculiar book, probably nonexistent, in which, it is alleged, everything which has been, is, and will be, is recorded.’”2
In the subsequent chapters of Nick and the Glimmung, in particular the twelfth, the attributes of One Summer Day will match the above description.
With a book with such powerful knowledge, it’s only natural that Glimmung would keep it a secret and most likely be the one responsible for convincing everyone else, including the legions who fight for him, that such a tome is merely a myth. The idea that the werj mistook One Summer Day for The Last and Final War in the previous chapter would make more sense from that theory.
Along with One Summer Day never making an appearance in Galactic Pot-Healer there are two further details. The first is that, earlier in the Earth phone encyclopedia’s description, this unidentified book has “‘sharply curtailed’” Glimmung’s power.3 throughout the events of Galactic Pot-Healer, Glimmung is never seen with the book. It’s reasonable to assume he no longer possesses it by then as he would have certainly found it useful in his endeavors in that novel.
The second detail is that in the novel there is another book, one like One Summer Day but not quite. According to Mali Yojez the book itself is untitled, and it is written in multiple languages, both of and not of Earth, by a group of authors collectively known as the Kalends.4 Thus the book is from there referred to as the Book of the Kalends.5
The species known as the Kalends themselves never appear, nor are they mentioned, in Nick and the Glimmung. It can be assumed that the Kalends are either a species foreign to Plowman’s Planet or they are among the natives of the Planet neutral to the war happening in Nick and the Glimmung and are in hiding.
Another distinction between One Summer Day and the Book of the Kalends will be elaborated on in the notes for the twelfth chapter.
“‘...brought it with him when he came to this planet, years ago.’”
If this is true, then this is the earliest point in the history of the existence of One Summer Day. Whether Glimmung created the book himself or procured it from someone, something, or somewhere else is left untold in this story. There is however one potential clue hidden in Galactic Pot-Healer which will be discussed in the notes for chapter fourteen.
“‘...take many shapes.’”
Glimmung’s ability of changing his form is on full display in Galactic Pot-Healer, more on that in chapter fifteen’s notes.
“‘Werjes can’t read.’”
This better explains how the werj made the mistake of giving the Grahams the wrong book.
“‘...furious.’”
Glimmung’s temper is another of his attributes also present in Galactic Pot-Healer.6
1) The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick Volume 1 (Citadel Twilight, 1990), pg. 33
2) Galactic Pot-Healer (Vintage Books, 1994), pg. 26
3) Ibid
4) Ibid, pg. 72
5) Ibid, pg. 106
6) Ibid, pg. 44-45
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