Monday 23 October 2023

Early Technic History

The Chaos
interplanetary exploration
energy from space
the hyperdrive
the Breakup
the Solar Commonwealth
colonization of Hermes
the first Grand Survey
discoveries of Ythri, Merseia, Avalon and Paradox
the Polesotechnic League
colonization of Aeneas and Altai 

These early developments set the scene for much that follows from the third instalment, "The Problem of Pain," onwards. In "The Problem of Pain," Ythrians and human beings explore the planet that will be called Avalon and an Aenean Christian has a painful encounter with the Ythrian New Faith. In his introduction to "The Problem of Pain," Hloch discusses the Solar Commonwealth and tries to explain the human concept of "nation" to his fellow Ythrians.

3 comments:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

The Ythrian in "The Problem of Pain," IMO, showed a regrettable lack of sensitivity as regards Peter Berg's dying wife. He too easily assumed humans would react the same way to pain as Ythrians tend to do--taking pride in showing indifference to trauma.

Ad astra! Sean

Jim Baerg said...

And the reverse is equally true. Peter Berg expects Ythrians to have the same attitudes as humans from Technic civilization.
Also there is no lack of human cultures in which stoic indifference to pain was considered a virtue.

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Jim!

You are probably correct, albeit I would need to reread "Problem" to be sure of Peter Berg's attitudes.

And I do respect calm self-control in the face of pain.

Ad astra! Sean