-copied from here.
One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
-copied from here.
"Earth is a quiet world.
"Oh, yes, wind soughs in the great forests that have come back, now that so few people live there; birds sing, cataracts brawl, the oceans rush on the moon's trail around the globe."
-Poul Anderson, World Without Stars (New York, 1966), Chapter XVII, p. 120.
Anderson's novel seems like a fulfillment of Biblical prophecies. In a far future, when most people live elsewhere, Earth abides with winds, forests, birds, rivers and tidal oceans. There is still a lunar influence on Earth. The oceans still flow - "rush" - as if no one had gone anywhere. The authors of Genesis and Ecclesiates would be able to return and be at home.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Very neat, these quotes taken by Anderson from the Bible to describe the Earth we see in WORLD WITHOUT STARS.
The description also reminded me of the Earth seen in FOR LOVE AND GLORY, Anderson's very last novel. Albeit, that Earth is somewhat more mysterious, even ominous, than what we see in WORLD WITHOUT STARS.
Sean
Sean,
I may have given a wrong impression here. On this occasion, Anderson did not quote the Bible. I thought it appropriate to juxtapose these passages from Genesis, Ecclesiastes and World Without Stars. Anderson's text reminded me of the Biblical "Earth abides..."
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Oops! I misunderstood you. I thought you were quoting how PA was citing from the Bible.
I thought you might like how the Douai-Reims-Challoner renders Ecclesiastes 1.4: "One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; but the earth standeth forever."
Sean
Post a Comment