Uncharted Territory by Connie Willis
"Uncharted Territory" is a narrative that follows two human explorers, Finriddy and Carson, who have been charting the distant world of Boohte for many years. Their adventures are portrayed in a romanticized manner through "pop-ups," which are immersive three-dimensional videos widely enjoyed on Earth. However, the reality of their experiences is more humorous and mundane, reflecting the challenges of navigating both the alien environment and the bureaucratic constraints imposed by Earth authorities. Author Connie Willis infuses the story with humor to tackle serious themes, such as the rights of native populations and planetary ecology, while also critiquing the inefficiencies and absurdities of bureaucratic regulations.
The explorers' mission is complicated by their native guide, Bult, who adeptly exploits the bureaucratic system, leading to comedic interactions among the characters. The dynamic is further enriched by C. J., their support staff, who seeks recognition despite regulatory prohibitions, and Evelyn, a visitor from Earth with expertise in alien sexual behavior, who adds a layer of intrigue by documenting their escapades. Throughout the story, a balance is struck between the explorers' intention to map Boohte and their obligation to protect its native inhabitants from exploitation, ultimately suggesting that the natives can wield considerable influence over the explorers. This interplay of humor, adventure, and social commentary invites readers to reflect on the complexities of exploration and cultural interactions in uncharted territories.
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Subject Terms
Uncharted Territory
First published: 1994
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Science fiction—alien civilization
Time of work: An indeterminate time in the future
Locale: The planet Boohte
The Plot
After they have been on Boohte for many years, two human explorers still are engaged in charting the world. Their adventures are depicted in a highly romantic fashion in “pop-ups,” portable three-dimensional videos popular on Earth. The explorers’ actual experiences are more mundane but humorous.
Author Connie Willis uses humor to address serious issues such as the rights of native populations and planetary ecology, but she also parodies mindless bureaucratic regulations. The remote Earth government represents “civilization” at its worst, full of regulations and unwilling to protect the natives, though it pretends to do so. Readers never learn the exact context for the survey of Boohte.
Finriddy and Carson, the explorers, are hampered both by the alien they call Bult, who is their native guide, and the Earth bureaucracy and its endless regulations, which Bult exploits. The tumultuous relationships among the characters result in comedic scenes. Finriddy and Carson’s support staff, a woman named C. J., keeps trying to have some place or object named for her, even though that is against regulations. A male visitor from Earth named Evelyn, a specialist in alien sexual behavior, joins the explorers and brings “pop-ups” that depict Finriddy and Carson’s adventures as a soap opera.
In one plot line, Finriddy and Carson must catch an outlaw trying to corrupt the aliens; their mission is to map out the world while protecting the aliens from exploitation. Willis also suggests that natives can exert power over explorers, as the alien Bult does over Finriddy and Carson.