Short Fiction · Chapter
The Piper explained
An old man and a Martian boy observe the Piper, an exiled Venerian, playing his pipe on a burial hill.
What happens
An old man and a Martian boy observe the Piper, an exiled Venerian, playing his pipe on a burial hill. The old man explains that the Piper was once the epitome of Venerian culture, outlawed by Earthlings. He reveals that the Piper's music has been summoning savage, hybrid Martians from the caves, and tonight they will descend to destroy the Earth cities and launch a revolution. The boy hides as the creatures overrun the settlements, and at dawn he emerges to start a new world.
Themes in this chapter
Violence and Murder
The Piper's music incites a violent revolution, with savage Martians overrunning Earth cities, killing, and destroying. The old man is swept away in the attack.
The Meaning of Art and Storytelling
The Piper's music is portrayed as a powerful force that can stir emotions, incite action, and bring about change. The old man recites poetry and discusses music as the language of all things.
Conformity and Rebellion
The Piper rebels against Earth's domination, using his music to lead a revolution. The old man expresses shame at humanity's greed and hopes for a new civilization.
Characters to notice
- Old Piper
The Piper, a tall gaunt man with electrical purple eyes, stands on a burial hill playing his pipe. He is an exiled Venerian, once called 'the brilliant,' who has been composing his music for twenty years to summon the savage Martians and lead a revolution against Earth.
- Sim
The Martian boy, described as the last pure Martian alive, listens to the old man's stories and watches the Piper. He is told to hide as the creatures attack, and at dawn he arises to start a new world.
- Jove-Run Nibley
The old man who arrived from Earth on the same ship as the Piper. He explains the Piper's history and the coming attack, and is swept away by the advancing horde.
Key passages
“Lord! He’s there again! He’s there! Look!”
The old man exclaims in surprise that the Piper is once again standing on the burial hill.
The old man points out the Piper to the Martian boy, setting the scene.
“The Piper was a tall, gaunt man, face as pale and wan as Martian moons, eyes electrical purple, standing against the soft of the dusking heaven, holding his pipe to his lips, playing.”
The Piper is described as a tall, thin man with a pale face and bright purple eyes, playing his pipe at dusk.
This description establishes the Piper's eerie and otherworldly appearance.
“They called him the brilliant. He was the epitome of all Venerian culture until the Earthmen came with their greedy incorporations and licentious harlots.”
The Piper was once the pinnacle of Venusian culture, but Earth's greedy corporations and immoral people forced him into exile.
The old man explains the Piper's background and the cause of his exile.
“Piper, pipe that song again! So he piped, I wept to hear.”
The old man quotes a poem, asking the Piper to play his song again, and describes being moved to tears.
This line is a reference to a poem from Earth, likely 'The Pied Piper of Hamelin.'
“Tonight is the end of the old, tomorrow begins the new! It is death for the men of Earth!”
The old man declares that tonight marks the end of Earth's rule and the beginning of a new era, with death for the Earthlings.
The old man foresees the violent revolution that the Piper's music will incite.