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scientific-assumptions
Characters debate natural assumptions such as the Wanderer being spherical, reflecting sunlight, or obeying known laws of physics.
1 chapter across 1 book
The Wanderer (1965)Fritz Leiber
Chapter 9
In this chapter, characters debate the nature, size, and distance of the mysterious celestial object called the Wanderer, considering hypotheses ranging from a massive planet-sized sphere to a gigantic illuminated balloon. The group grapples with scientific assumptions about orbits, illumination, and visibility, while interpersonal dynamics and skepticism surface among them. The chapter ends with a formal attempt to document eyewitness accounts and a call to gather more observational data, highlighting the tension between wonder, fear, and rational inquiry.