Point of View

The story is written in third person from an omniscient perspective that is often limited to a particular character. In most cases, the viewpoint is limited to that of either Blackthorne or Mariko. This is really the only option open to the author that would preserve the integrity of the story line. For example, the reader sees Toranga's actions usually through the viewpoints of others. On rare occasions, the reader catches a brief moment of his inner thoughts. This changes at the end when Toranga's thoughts are presented in full, giving the reader the details that tie the story together. Through this method, the author is able to keep the reader guessing about specific points throughout the book which builds suspense. The story opens from Blackthorne's viewpoint, presenting readers with information about the voyage up to this point, the men who crew the ship Blackthorne pilots...