Discovery
This is a book concerned with the age of exploration and discovery. A wise character sums up the thick layer of irony that is associated with these terms when he remarks that the country’s Queen is sending out ships in every direction to “discover” new places. He instantly undercuts the glory of this endeavor by predicting that every place “discovered” by this fleet of ships was already discovered a long time ago. But not by his country.
The Myth of the Sunderlands
The Sunderlands is a legendary southern continent that has never been found. As such it has become the stuff of myth and legend. The kind of places that dragons still inhabit. Ironically, the Sunderlands not only turns out to be real, but it is every bit as magical as the legends would have it be.
Colonialism and Lineals
The Queen’s directive to discover new places that have already been discovered translates into colonialist occupation. As the invading nation, a flag planted in the name of the occupiers grants them a stronger right of possession than the history of the native peoples. This imperialistic aim becomes ironic in light of the great meaning that everybody puts on lineals. Lineals are gold chains in which each link represents an honorable generation. The more links the lineal has, the more respect is awarded to the owner. When it comes to foreign lands, generational ownership means nothing, but when it comes to their land, lines would be considered more powerful than any force invading them.
The Expedition Prize
The Queen makes a royal announcement of the Expedition Prize. Ships will be launched in every direction to “discover” lands that can “extend the boundaries” of the kingdom. The printed version of this announcement does not contain the final paragraph as written in which the Queen will reward any captain who discovers the Sunderland or proves it to be nonexistent. Since this place is considered merely a children’s story, the Queen requests that the final paragraph not be printed because “Queens generally hate being laughed at.” Although this decision is made to protect the Queen from ridicule, it is ironically the only place found as part of the Expedition Prize which was discovered for the first time and which does exist.
The Truth about Sunderlands
For as long as can be remembered, the Sunderlands has been this mythical wonderland too impossibly perfect to exist. Once it has been discovered to exist it also proves to be as perfect as promised. To protect its pristine state from the ravages of exploitation of its natural resources when Sai returns she paints a portrait of the Sunderlands as a barren wasteland. Ironically, the legend that has long existed is the truth, and the truth that people now believe is a myth.
