# Through the Blue Haze explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Andre Norton.

## What happens

Six months after the Peace of Shanghai ends the great war, Captain Garin Featherstone, a jobless war pilot, is recruited by Gregory Farson for an Antarctic expedition to investigate a mysterious blue haze. During the flight into the haze, Garin's plane is taken over by an alien intelligence, forced to dive into a hidden green world beneath the ice. After the presence withdraws, his engine fails and he crashes into a fern-like tree.

## Themes in this chapter

### War and Its Aftermath

Garin is a war veteran unable to find civilian work, and the war's end directly leads to his recruitment by Farson.

### Alien Encounter and Coexistence

Garin experiences an alien intelligence that takes control of his plane, hinting at a non-human presence in the hidden world beneath the ice.

### Ancient Wisdom and Technology

The blue haze and the green world below suggest a hidden, ancient realm with unknown technology or forces.

## Character check-ins

### Captain Garin Featherstone

Protagonist; a war veteran pilot struggling in civilian life, recruited by Farson, and later controlled by an alien intelligence during the flight into the haze.

### Gregory Farson

The Antarctic explorer who recruits Garin; leads the expedition to investigate the blue haze, believing it may be volcanic activity.

## Key lines

> Six months and three days after the Peace of Shanghai was signed and the great War of 1965–1970 declared at an end by an exhausted world, a young man huddled on a park bench in New York, staring miserably at the gravel beneath his badly worn shoes.

Three days after the Peace of Shanghai ended the global war, a young veteran sat dejectedly on a New York park bench, his worn shoes reflecting his despair.

_Establishes the post-war setting and Garin's disillusionment._

> I’m Gregory Farson,” the other returned as if that should answer the question. “The Antarctic man!”

The stranger introduced himself as Gregory Farson, the famous Antarctic explorer.

_Introduces Farson and his reputation._

> The haze affects radio. On our trip near it the static was very bad. Almost,” with a laugh, “like speech in some foreign tongue.”

Farson noted that the haze caused radio interference that sounded almost like a foreign language.

_Foreshadows the alien intelligence and the hidden world._

> Abruptly Garin sensed that he was no longer alone. Somewhere in the empty cabin behind him was another intelligence, a measuring power. He fought furiously against it—against the very idea of it. But, after a long, terrifying moment while it seemed to study him, it took control.

Garin felt an alien presence in the cabin that studied him and then took control of his plane.

_Key moment of alien encounter and loss of autonomy._

> There came a ripping crash, the splintering of metal and wood. The scarlet cloud gathering before Garin’s eyes turned black.

The plane crashed into a fern tree, and Garin lost consciousness as a red haze turned to black.

_Climactic crash ending the chapter._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_3_se/chapters/i-through-the-blue-haze
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_3_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_3_se/chapters