"'...we don't have the knowledge to say how far [the historical pattern] may apply to nonhumans, if at all,' Desai admitted."
-Poul Anderson, Sir Dominic Flandry: The Last Knight Of Terra (New York, 2012), p. 390.
But he intends to find out. When Flandry questions whether the Merseians are also decadent, Desai asks:
"'...what is decadence to a nonhuman?'" (ibid.)
I think that the Merseian resolve begins to weaken shortly afterwards when the Magnusson Rebellion fails. Tachwyr's rationalization:
"'By adversity, the God tempers the steel of the Race. Let us get on with our quest.'"
-Poul Anderson, Flandry's Legacy (New York, 2012), p. 447 -
- rings hollow.
By contrast with Desai, the Vro-Hi in "Flight to Forever," having advised the First Galactic Empire of many intelligent species on a billion planets, has learned "...the great laws in the rise and fall of cultures..." -Past Times (New York, 1984), p. 262.
If transported to the History of Technic Civilization, the Vro-Hi would be able to assess Terra, Merseia, Ythri etc - unless "...the great laws..." differ between timelines? But I doubt it.
6 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I always feel disgust and high dudgeon when I see the horrible cover Baen Books chose for SIR DOMINICL FLANDRY. This, along with the covers for YOUNG FLANDRY and CAPTAIN FLANDRY, besmirches and disgrace the works of Poul Anderson collected in them. These pornographic covers makes Dominic Flandry look like a goon with a taste for cavorting with naked bimbos!
Sean
Sean,
Despite its cover, I thought it appropriate to illustrate this post with the Technic History volume in which Desai expounds his theory.
Paul.
Sean:
But he DID have a taste for cavorting with naked bimbos. He just didn't let that stop him ALSO being a dedicated and highly competent agent ... in fact, he at least once cited the sexy girls -- "supple young women clad in sunlight" -- as one of his prime motivating factors.
Kaor, Paul!
Replying to both your notes here. Yes, altho Commissioner Desai never mentioned him by name, he based his conversation with Flandry on the studies of John K. Hord. I'm sure you remember how I thought his analyses of the rise and fall of civilizations uncannily accurate and plausible. An analysis Poul Anderson accepted.
Yes, I agree, Dominic Flandry was very much a ladies man! But he never let his fondness for living well prevent him from being, as you said, "a dedicated and highly competent agent." Flandry was not a grim and humorless professional!
Sean
Oops! I made a mistake. The second paragraph of my second comment above should have been addressed to Dave, not Paul!
Also, I would consider Flandry's superior, Admiral Fenross, a good example of the "grim and humorless" professional. With the caveat that Fenross was a very tired and overworked man.
Sean
I am not entirely sure that Tachwyr's comment: "By adversity the God tempers the steel of the Race. Let us get on with our quest" can necessarily be said to "ring hollow." The Merseian leaders might still show unbending determination in their efforts to destroy the Terran Empire despite repeated setbacks and disappointments. But I agree PA might have wanted readers to think Tachwyr's words rang hollow.
Sean
Post a Comment