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"Gathers the Darkness"  ?

Do you think that applies to a story like The Finishing Stroke in which the engaging, chapter-length "prologue" sets up the events of the "main" story, years after, and the chaper-length "postlogue" is set still years later, when Ellery Queen has the knowledge to fully interpret the clues?

More info on the many astronomical cycles that match fossil evidence: https://wattsupwiththat.com/2025/08/05/ … nificance/ .

It will certainly change things.

There have been "writers", some apparently well-known formula writers, who have had uncredited employees or subcontrators write chapters, aping their style, to write their novels.  You could substitute AI here.

What is a reviewer supposed to contribute?

To what extent is the reviewer commenting on the story?

To what extent is the reviewer commenting on the storytelling?

To what extent is the reviewer describing the effect the story had on that reviewer, or the reviewer's personal reactions to the story or to the storytelling?

The various Milankovich cycles run over longer periods than human memory, and they provide a good match to earth's long-term climate changes.  In summary, second- and third-order effects of other bodies in the solar system cause small (but very measurable) changes to earth's orbit, which alter the balance between solar energy absorbed, planetary temperature, and solar energy radiated into outer space.

But what about an intruder?

I suppose this is a good point at which to recall the "IBM coathook" story.

IBM once had a part number for a coathook.

Once upon a time, when the world was young and mainframes filled whole rooms, there was an IBM part number for a coathook.

In spite of filters for the cooling air, the interior of mainframes would collect dust, and all the grotty things that are in dust.  Said interiors were where techs had to work to find and fix problems, and IBM techs were professionals in a primitive age that demanded white shirts, jackets, and ties.  To allow their techs to work without spoiling their handsome IBM jackets, the mainframes were equipped with a coathook inside where the tech's coat could be safely hung, but only after the mainframe's door was securely closed!

There are two routes to explaining the discrepency: inside the story and in the author's words outside the story.  It sounds like you are leaning toward the latter: What if we are reading something wrong?

Redemption requires achieving that state where righteousness and holiness mean the same thing, and embracing it fully.

There is one problem with joulestones that may endear them to you.  Some forms of Otto Korrecditt may insist on turning Joule into jewel.  Personally, I'd relish the dragon to be slain!