Wednesday 24 May 2023

Revisiting "Requiem For A Universe"

"Requiem for a Universe."

For previous discussions, see here.

We recognize features of a particular kind of fictional future. There is a "'...Peace Command.'" (p. 36) This is an equivalent of the Space Patrol in Robert Heinlein's Adult and Juvenile Future Histories. There is also a "...World Union...," (p. 37) This is an equivalent of Heinlein's World Federation.

"The compound occupies a hill with a view over the medieval city, the river, green countryside, distant Alpine snowpeaks. Even stronger than seeing Earth from space, a scene like this brings to me the sense of home, that here is where we belong." (p. 38)

We remember other sf titles:

The Green Hills of Earth by Robert Heinlein
Earthman, Come Home by James Blish

Earth looks different to those who have left it and returned.

6 comments:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

And of course there's Anderson's World Federation in THE STAR FOX.

It's my belief that if/when mankind settles other worlds, those planets will become "home" to the descendants of the first colonists. But I can still some of these colonies revering Earth as "Manhome."

Ad astra! Sean

S.M. Stirling said...

It's interesting that pre-space-flight most people didn't realize that from space earth would be predominantly blue and white -- white clouds, blue oceans (75% of the surface).

Even the continents usually don't look green, they look brownish.

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Mr. Stirling!

Yes, but Heinlein's THE GREEN HILLS OF EARTH is so much more poetic a title for a book than THE DUN HILLS OF EARTH!

Ad astra! Sean

paulshackley2017@gmail.com said...

I think that the Terrestrial tricolour should be blue, white and green.

S.M. Stirling said...

From a distance, green places generally look sort of blue-ish. Forested mountains, for example.

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul and Mr. Stirling!

Paul: I would prefer the flag of a united Terra to be a sunburst in a royal blue field.

Mr. Stirling: The pictures I've seen of Earth from space are like that.

Ad astra! Sean