A future society will not only differ from present societies but also will have its own internal differences. Thus, in Boseville by the River Flone on Aeneas, residents but not Riverfolk attend the tinerans' carnival. These are three distinct groups that in no way exhaust Aenean social diversity. In fact, Rolf Mariner, really Ivar Frederiksen of the University, totally fails to integrate himself with the tinerans. Meanwhile, Erannath, who is of a different species, surveys human diversity.
There are religious differences between Bosevilleans. One man hopes that the Elders will return and that Aeneans are:
"'...right at the next stage of evolution.'" (p. 153)
- not to be crushed back into Imperial subjects.
Another dismisses such "'...heathenish talk...'" (ibid.) but then thinks that Aeneans might be:
"'...God's chosen instruments to give [the Empire] cleansin' shock.'" (ibid.)
And this shows us how religious differences can be incorporated into a national liberation struggle.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
And those differences could be observed and be manipulated by outsiders for unfriendly purposes!
Ad astra! Sean
Yeah. The choices for places like Aeneas are not between the Empire and independence, they're between the Empire and Meresia.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
Exactly! A part of the painful process of growing up for Ivar was reluctantly facing up to that unpalatable fact.
Ad astra! Sean
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