"Anderson, Poul And Gordon R Dickson - Hokas Pokas" - читать интересную книгу автора (Anderson Poul)

such comparatively small bodies. Thus, in the course of a few
short years, the "demon teddy bears," to use a popular phrase for
them, have covered their planet with an implausible kaleidoscope
of harlequin societies describable only by some such metaphor as
the foregoing. . . .



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Framed
Title: Hokas Pokas
Author: Poul Anderson & Gordon R. Dickson
ISBN: 0-671-57858-8
Copyright: й 1983 by Poul Anderson & Gordon R. Dickson
Publisher: Baen Books
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When one is a regular ambassador to a civilized planet with full
membership in the Interbeing League, it is quite sufficient to marry
a girl who is only blond and beautiful. However, a plenipotentiary,
guiding a backward world along the tortuous path to modern culture
and full status, needs a wife who is also competent to handle the
unexpected.

Alexander Jones had no reason to doubt that his Tanni met all the
requirements of blondness, beauty, and competence. Neither did
she. After a dozen years of Toka, he did not hesitate to leave her in
charge while he took a native delegation to Earth and arranged for
the planet's advancement in grade. And for a while things went
smoothlyЧas smoothly, at least, as they can go on a world of
eager, energetic teddy bears with imaginations active to the point
of autohypnosis.

Picture her, then, on a sunny day shortly after lunch, walking
through her official residence in the city Mixumaxu. Bright sunshine
streamed through the glassite wall, revealing a pleasant view of
cobbled streets, peaked roofs, and the grim towers of the Bastille.
(This was annually erected by a self-appointed Roi Soleil, and torn
down again by happy sans-culottes every July 14.) Tanni Jones'
brief tunic and long golden hair were in the latest Bangkok fashion,
even on this remote outpost, and her slim tanned figure would
never be outmoded and she was comfortably aware of the fact.
She had just checked the nursery, finding her two younger children
safe at play. A newly arrived letter from her husband was tucked
into her bosom. It announced in one sentence that his mission had
been successful; thereafter several pages were devoted to more
important matters, such as his imminent return with a new fur coat
and he wished he could have been in the envelope and meanwhile
he loved her madly, passionately, etc. She was murmuring to