Formative Events

Some nations and societies have what they regard as founding events, e.g., the United States and the War of Independence. In Poul Anderson's Technic History, the establishment of orbiting colonies and space-based industries facilitates recovery from the Chaos and transition from Western to Technic civilization. In Anderson's Psychotechnic History, Fourre's coup against Reinach is necessary to prevent a second nuclear war that the human race might not have survived. Thus, the events of "The Saturn Game" in the Technic History and of "Marius" in the Psychotechnic History will be regarded as formative or foundational by all succeeding generations in their respective interstellar histories. In particular, "Marius," with its decisive conflict in the unlit streets and bombed buildings of post-war Europe, contrasts sharply with the technological renewal on display in the following instalment, "Un-Man," to which we must shortly return.