Point of View

The novel is presented from the limited perspectives of Laureline and Valerian. This is not overly limiting because Valerian is at the heart of all the action that occurs during the novel. The novel opens with information about Technorog, the planet later identified as Alflolol. Valerian would know all that information, but it is presented to the reader as a historical narrative in order to bring the reader up to the current point of the action.

The perspective is limited by what Valerian and Laureline know at any given moment. That is seen clearly when Laureline seems to pass out as she and Valerian are leaving the planet. At that point, Valerian and Laureline have no idea what is happening, so the reader also does not know. The action follows Valerian and Laureline as they make discoveries.

While Laureline is at the heart of the...