liquid furnace

English translation: explanation

09:07 Jul 20, 2020
English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
English term or phrase: liquid furnace
Context:
They must be vigilant. The approaches to fortunate Zimiamvia were guarded. They could not expect to reach the pass unopposed. And the nights were haunted still. They made camp at a flat bend of the river, where the crags of the defile drew away, and they could see far up and down their valley. To the north, peaks of diamond and indigo reared above them. Their fire of aromatic wood burned brightly, as the white stars began to blossom.
...
Their eyes met. “Sonja’s” barbarian simplicity combined surprisingly well with the man’s more elaborate furnishing. The consensual perceptual plenum was a flawless reality: the sound of the river, the clear silence of the mountain twilight…their two perfect bodies. She turned from him to gaze into the sweet-scented flames. The warrior-woman’s glorious vitality throbbed in her. The fire held worlds of its own, *liquid furnaces*: the sunward surface of Mercury.

More context, please click:
https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q="of its own, liquid ...
--quoted from Red Sonja and Lessingham in Dreamland (1996, science fiction) by Gwyneth Jones

Mercury, the background of virtual reality game in this story, is based on the fantasy fiction Zimiamvian Trilogy by E. R. Eddison. It is “a fantasy version of Earth, no effort was made to conform to the scientific knowledge of Mercury”.
Actually I’m confused by the whole last sentence. Thank you!
updownK
China
Local time: 19:20
Selected answer:explanation
Explanation:
she is gazing into a fire of "sweet scented flames" and it's common for people to see "worlds" in the flames of a fire. Constantly changing images.
Here these flames are likened to a liquid furnace, a hot burning fire that looks like burning liquid, like what would be seen on the sunny side of Mercury, so it's flickering, vaporous and throbbing. (Remember also that the element mercury is constantly moving and is the only metallic element that is liquid at standard conditions for temperature and pressure)

This fire is also linked to the previous sentence where there is a fire of sensual desire throbbing inside her. There is sexual chemistry here between the man and woman and their "two perfect bodies" so the flames of the fire and the flames burning inside them are related.

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Note added at 1 day 3 hrs (2020-07-21 12:53:00 GMT) Post-grading
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Glad to have helped. Good luck!
Selected response from:

Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Local time: 11:20
Grading comment
Thank you for your detailed explanation, logically and literarily!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +1explanation
Yvonne Gallagher
5 -1The warrior-woman’s glorious vitality throbbed in her. The fire held worlds of its own, *liquid furn
Anastasia Andriani
4 -1The contrast between the river water and the fire created a luminescent and surreal view.
Gabriel Ferrero


Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


38 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): -1
The warrior-woman’s glorious vitality throbbed in her. The fire held worlds of its own, *liquid furn


Explanation:
Furnaces are permanently installed to provide heat to an interior space through intermediary fluid movement, which may be air, steam, or hot water.
on the other hand "Mercury" means the closest planet to the sun.
the whole last sentence figure out about lust/very strong sexual desire


    Reference: http://wikipedia.com
    Reference: http://yourdictionary.com
Anastasia Andriani
Indonesia
Local time: 18:20
Native speaker of: Native in IndonesianIndonesian
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Yvonne Gallagher: this does not explain the term asked
49 mins
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42 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -1
The contrast between the river water and the fire created a luminescent and surreal view.


Explanation:
I clicked on the link and read some lines before and after the quotes.
Mercury is characterised by a flippant surface façade: it changes shades according to the sun rays. When the Sun rays hit on Mercury's surface, they create a prismatic, surreal (beautiful) appearance/view.

Gabriel Ferrero
France
Local time: 12:20
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Yvonne Gallagher: no, this is not the meaning
46 mins
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
explanation


Explanation:
she is gazing into a fire of "sweet scented flames" and it's common for people to see "worlds" in the flames of a fire. Constantly changing images.
Here these flames are likened to a liquid furnace, a hot burning fire that looks like burning liquid, like what would be seen on the sunny side of Mercury, so it's flickering, vaporous and throbbing. (Remember also that the element mercury is constantly moving and is the only metallic element that is liquid at standard conditions for temperature and pressure)

This fire is also linked to the previous sentence where there is a fire of sensual desire throbbing inside her. There is sexual chemistry here between the man and woman and their "two perfect bodies" so the flames of the fire and the flames burning inside them are related.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 3 hrs (2020-07-21 12:53:00 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Glad to have helped. Good luck!

Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Local time: 11:20
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 317
Grading comment
Thank you for your detailed explanation, logically and literarily!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Tina Vonhof (X)
4 hrs
  -> Thanks Tina!
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