Tom and Adrienne ride up into the Californian hills:
"After an hour or so he noticed something odd - a silence." (p. 406)
We already know that New Virginia is quieter then FirstSide but this is more specific. The horses and dogs have sensed something. Adrienne points out a leopard in a tree. But we already knew that John Rolfe had imported African and Asian animals. What other differences are there?
Sean Brooks reminded me of one:
"...the prices looked absurdly low." (p. 254)
No inflation. Here is another: neither dictatorship nor democracy but "'...a reasonably law-abiding and benevolent feudal oligarchy.'" (p. 269)
I could live in New Virginia if I could be like Ralph Barnes but that will be another post.
2 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Thanks for mentioning me! Nice to know how both Tom and Tully noticed the ridiculously low seeming prices for goods, services, housing, etc. I think Britons and Americans would have to go back to 1914 for both low prices and prosperity.
I have long believed that our currencies should be "hard," based on SOMETHING of real value, such as gold or silver. And I do admit it would be very difficult to go back to such a system because of crushing national debt and drastically larger governments.
I can't help but wonder what will happen if something like the Great German Inflation of the early 1920's occurred in the US or UK. It would obviously have appallingly bad personal, social, and political consequences!
I agree, the Commonwealth of New Virginia is "...a reasonably law-abiding and benevolent feudal oligarchy." And Giovanni Colletta wanted to change that into just despotism, and one trying to conquer the Other Side Earth. It was right to oppose him!
Sean
I occasionally experience real silence while X-C skiing in the mountains west of Calgary. The sound absorbing properties of fairly fresh snow helps.
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