# Ghosts of the Ancient Mariner explained — Islands of Space

> Chapter companion for Islands of Space by John W. Campbell.

## What happens

The crew of the Ancient Mariner realizes that the mysterious ships they saw are actually reflections of their own vessel due to extreme space curvature. To combat boredom, they work on upgrading their flying suits with invisibility devices. The ship then encounters a violent cosmic storm with intense radiation and electrical discharges, forcing them to battle through with the molecular drive and emergency repairs to the space-strain drive.

## Themes in this chapter

### Science and Technology as Tools

The crew uses their understanding of space curvature and technology (invisibility suits, drive repairs) to solve problems and survive.

### Resilience in the Face of Cosmic Threats

The crew endures a violent cosmic storm, working under extreme conditions to repair the ship and navigate through dangerous forces.

## Character check-ins

### Dr. Richard Arcot

Laughs at the realization that the duplicate ships are reflections; initiates suit upgrades; pilots the ship through the cosmic storm.

### Morey

Initially puzzled, then laughs with Arcot; works on repairs in the power room during the storm.

### Wade

Joins in laughter after understanding the reflection; works on suit upgrades and helps with power room repairs.

### John Fuller

Mystified by the reflection joke; knocked out by the ship's violent jolt; brings spacesuits to the power room.

## Key lines

> The light from our own ship has come back to us, due to the intense curvature of the space which encloses us.

The reflected images are caused by light traveling around the curved space and returning to the ship.

_Arcot explains the phenomenon of space curvature causing the ghostly duplicates._

> If we’d shot at it, we would have really done ourselves in! The ray beam would go around and hit us from behind!

Attacking the reflections would be suicidal because the beam would curve around and strike the ship.

_Arcot warns against firing at the apparent enemy ships._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/islands_of_space_se/chapters/vii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/islands_of_space_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/islands_of_space_se/chapters