I don't know if it was deliberate, but the point where it goes from a detailed description to "and then the rest of the story happens too" is, if I recall correctly, just about the point at which the original novelette ended.
From what I remember, it's not so much plot-twist-packed as it is that kind of pulp-fiction plot where there's a plot thread with a set of adventures strung onto it like beads, and the individual adventures don't necessarily have a lot to do with each other. Like, to complete their objectives they have to visit three planets, and on one planet they have an adventure involving spies, and on another planet they have an adventure involving giant killer reptiles, and on the way to the third planet they have an adventure involving pirates, and on the final planet they have an adventure involving whatever it was they've been chasing around all these planets for. (NB: The preceding sentence doesn't necessarily bear any resemblance to the actual plot of "The Witches of Karres".)
I have to admit that the only Timothy Zahn I've actually read are his first set of Star Wars novels. (Makes propitiatory gesture toward the ghost of Alec Guinness, who reputedly got really narky about people who couldn't distinguish between "I'm a big fan of your work" and "I loved you in Star Wars".) I'm not sure how much of his own stuff made it out to this part of the world; I don't remember having seen any of it around.
(Oh! Computer says the entire Quadrail series is available through inter-library loan! ..."Cobra" hasn't become available since I checked this morning, though. Not good enough!)
no subject
From what I remember, it's not so much plot-twist-packed as it is that kind of pulp-fiction plot where there's a plot thread with a set of adventures strung onto it like beads, and the individual adventures don't necessarily have a lot to do with each other. Like, to complete their objectives they have to visit three planets, and on one planet they have an adventure involving spies, and on another planet they have an adventure involving giant killer reptiles, and on the way to the third planet they have an adventure involving pirates, and on the final planet they have an adventure involving whatever it was they've been chasing around all these planets for. (NB: The preceding sentence doesn't necessarily bear any resemblance to the actual plot of "The Witches of Karres".)
I have to admit that the only Timothy Zahn I've actually read are his first set of Star Wars novels. (Makes propitiatory gesture toward the ghost of Alec Guinness, who reputedly got really narky about people who couldn't distinguish between "I'm a big fan of your work" and "I loved you in Star Wars".) I'm not sure how much of his own stuff made it out to this part of the world; I don't remember having seen any of it around.
(Oh! Computer says the entire Quadrail series is available through inter-library loan! ..."Cobra" hasn't become available since I checked this morning, though. Not good enough!)