Imhotepan pioneer brick buildings were built low because of the high gravity but, of course, newer buildings are tall. Imhotepans are muscular and not fat. Market place shops sell:hinterland fruit and grains;
ironware from local smithies;
fabric and computers from the inner Empire;
jewels, skins and carvings from a hundred planets;
videos of Terran sleaze and a Siravo dance;
rifles, stunners and illegal Merseian blasters;
hot food;
alcoholic drink;
Winged Smoke.
Draft animals are clopperhoofs. There are uniformed Navy men, Tigeries, Irumclagians, Shalmuans, a Donarrian and an unprecedented Wodenite.
Thus, a colorful future equivalent of the crowded Indian bazaar described by Kipling.
4 comments:
Hi, Paul!
This casual mentioning of Irumclagians might well be understood as PA's oblique way of informing readers who remember A CIRCUS OF HELLS that Leon Ammon's plans for reopening Wayland for mining had succeeded. And, as a result of the greater prosperity Irumclaw saw from being so "near" Wayland, more of the natives of that world were able to travel to other parts of the Empire.
And I noted the mentioning of Shalmuans as well! I get the impression many Shalmuans tended to sign up as space hands in merchant ships. And, of course, Flandry's friend/butler/pilot/chef/valet Chives was of that species.
Sean
Sean,
Good thinking about Irumclaw. This is an authentic though fictional history.
Paul.
Hi, Paul!
Thanks! You keep listing details I have overlooked or forgotten. Details which, once mentioned by you, sometimes gives me an inspiration.
Sean
Hi, Paul!
I forgot to mention in my previous comment how your choice of illustration interested me. It's an Italian cover for THE GAME OF EMPIRE. And it made me wish that fans of Poul Anderson in Italy and other countries woud leave their own comments here--if they know English, of course!
Sean
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