an oppressive Solarian Empire in "Genius;"
an oppressive Star Empire in the first Kith History;
a comparatively benign Terran Empire in the History of Technic Civilization;
an all-encompassing Galactic Empire in Isaac Asimov's future history;
an Empire of the Known Universe in the Dune History;
etc.
But surely the entire idea of an interstellar empire is hopeless to begin with - especially one that either rules the entire galaxy or has an individual Emperor?
Poul Anderson makes three significant contributions:
he describes the Fall of the real historical Roman Empire in more than one work;
his Terran Empire is the least implausible of the interstellar empires, becoming increasingly credible and substantial as the series proceeds;
he shows us several interstellar scenarios in which there is no question of a multi-system imperialism ever arising.
Thus, as ever, he covers all the bases.
5 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I think, however, it would be better to think of an interstellar "empire" as having a wider meaning. My view is that, granted a FTL drive, then interstellar realms will take varied forms, not just the monarchical. IOW, there might arise federations, confederations, commonwealths, etc., as well as monarchical types.
In S.M. Stirling and David Drake's "The General" series, the planet Bellevue has two major powers: The Civil Government of the Holy Federation and the Colony. The former is an empire very much like the Byzantine Empire which retained confused memories of how Bellevue was once part of an interstellar state called the Federation.
Sean
Sean,
Of course "empire" can have a wider meaning but at least four of the five Empires listed above have an Emperor. I should also have mentioned Niven's and pournelle's Empire of Man.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
The point I'm trying to make, somewhat ineptly, is that I don't think a monarchical interstellar empire, granted a FTL drive, is totally implausible. I also think interstellar states can take other forms as well, again if a FTL drive is available. Really, I think what form such a state might take will depend on many factors, including sheer accident. E.g., if Manuel Argos, in the Technic History, had not "lived," what might have happened?
Sean
Sean,
Interstellar monarchy not impossible, given FTL. (It partly depends how F.)
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Exactly! What we seem to be groping for is that the SIZE of any kind of "empire" depends on what is technologically possible. The Roman Empire, at its height, was I believe at the very limits of what was possible, given the available technology. An interstellar state (whether an empire or a federation), if a FTL drive is available, will be inconceivably vaster. It's my view that the approximately 400 light years diameter of the Technic History's Terran Empire will very likely be the most any kind of interstellar state will be able to govern.
Sean
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