Concerning the Captain of Clan Belov, we are informed that:
"...day-to-day ecological management...was his main reality occupation." (p. 69)
So these guys do have some real world roles and responsibilities?
The Terra Central of Chapter V has either become or been succeeded by the Worldguide which informs members of rival clans who are just about to start killing each other:
"'Your own laws, usages, and consciences preserved [the Peace of the Covenant] thus far in this nation. Your own ceremonies, rituals, vyings for status, and pleasures took up your energies.'
"What else was left for us? cried the unborn rebel." (pp. 82-83)
"Covenant" is an echo of the post-Revolutionary settlement in Robert Heinlein's Future History.
Human beings had only ceremonies etc left to them? Not maintenance of their environment, pursuit of knowledge, exploration of the universe, artistic creation, extraplanetary colonization or meaningful interpersonal relationships and social interactions? I don't believe it. Of course, if human lives really did become empty of meaning, then, in this and some other future histories, we could indeed hand over to our post-organic successors.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I disagree with your last paragraph, to say nothing of how you are missing the point. First, I still don't believe will care all that much about the environment, pursuing knowledge, artistic creation, etc. Second, the so called Worldguide's suppressing of the budding clan feud revealed to the humans how powerless they were. So powerless they could not even fight!
Therefore, it's no surprise, alas, mankind soon succumbed to ennui, despair, and a slow decline to extinction. Unless they had resolved to violently reject the Worldguide and do as they pleased!
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
I gave a list of options, including extraplanetary colonization, one that you favour.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
I saw, I noticed, and I approve of such a goal! But, alas, we never see any humans, after
AIs came to de facto rule Earth, having the gumption to defy the so called Worldguide and set out for planets orbiting other stars using generation ships.
GENESIS reminded me just now of "Murphy's Hall." The earlier parts of the former shows us humans making very bad mistakes.
Ad astra! Sean
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