There’s no danger. Just a chance to learn.
-- Caitlin (chapter 1)

Importance: Caitlin says this regarding the family's decision not to take settler drugs on the Planet of the Archbuilders. This decision demonstrates the family's commitment to fully interacting with and learning from the planet's environment and its indigenous inhabitants.

Archbuilders possess an extraordinary linguistic capacity...Archbuilders describe English as a language of enchanting limitations.
-- Caitlin Marsh (chapter 3)

Importance: These sentences function as an introduction to the idea of Archbuilders as intelligent, advanced beings. The Archbuilders function in a linguistic manner that is more advanced than humans, and thus their interaction with the English language is distinct and even enigmatic.

I think we ought to draw a line around this town we're starting here, Marsh. Make it a human settlement
-- Efram Nugent (chapter 8)

Importance: This statement by Efram Nugent demonstrates his hatred and xenophobia towards the Archbuilders. He desires to separate the humans from the Archbuilders, and this desire indicates his...