Although nanotech and robotics have made all necessities and perhaps also all comforts free, the places of business in Elya include shops so what is bought and sold?
A mansion belongs to an association of which Varday is a member and she currently has the use of it. What is the basis of such membership?
Earth exports Seladorianism but not nanotech to Harbor, Tau Ceti, where there is both money and poverty although we are also told that:
"...technics feeds, clothes, houses, medicates everybody..." (49, p. 471)
Do vested interests oppose nanotech as they oppose the Venture League and subsidize Seladorian missionaries?
Planets have become self-sufficient so there needs to be a reason for star travel other than trade.
4 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Given only STL means of star traveling, it simply would not make sense to attempt trade and commerce after most humanly colonized planets became self sufficient. And that would tend to lessen star traveling. Unless people had compelling to undergo the cost and TIME it takes to go to other stars. Seladorian missionary zeal might well motivate some. Discontent and dissatisfaction would be the inspiration for others.
Ad astra! Sean
Darn! I mean to type in "reasons" after "compelling" in my first comment here.
Sean
Not trade in staples, but given the parameters of the zero-zero drive, trade in luxuries and exotic items ought to be doable
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
I can see that as being doable for a time. But Anderson plainly thought that would be less and less likely as time passed. So, from at least "The Tale of the Cat" onwards, we see the Kith steadily declining in STARFARERS.
Ad astra! Sean
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