The Fall And All

 

"The Temple of Earth."

Engineers preach sermons about:

sin;

a consequent Fall from Earth where there is green everywhere, great pools of water and enough food for everyone and where you can walk outside without a spacesuit;

a return to Earth at death;

or banishment to Mars for criminals etc.

The real history, known to few, is of a war that destroyed civilization on Earth and left the Lunar colonies isolated.

On the Moon, machines wore out, "wise men" died, cities fought with swords and spears:

"'...and finally the long night of ignorance fell on us. And that is the true story of the Fall."

And that is also the first Long Night in Poul Anderson's works. We return to roots.