"'As for the Empire, can't it contain one more way of living? Won't mankind be the richer for that?'"
-Poul Anderson, "Outpost of Empire" IN Anderson, Captain Flandry: Defender Of The Terran Empire (Riverdale, NY, 2010), pp. 1-72 AT p. 66.
This is perhaps the most fundamental theme in all of Poul Anderson's works. The Empire was unable to contain the Avalonian way of living but the Empire is not the whole of mankind. (Later, Dennitza demonstrates that the Roidhunate is not the whole of Merseian-kind.)
Another fundamental theme is:
"'...no one can compromise on the basics of his culture. They're the larger part of his identity. To give them up is a kind of death. Many people would rather die in the body.'" (ibid.)
Examples include Avalon and the Free People of Freehold.
Finally, these themes exist in a cosmic context, summarized thus:
"A screen showed space and stars on the rim of the world." (ibid.)
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
But the Empire was not opposed to different planets and races having different ways of living. All it really asked of them was that they acknowledge fealty to the Throne, pay modest taxes, and live in peace with their neighbors.
Before the events recorded in "Outpost Of Empire," the Imperium had not even KNOWN of the Outbackers and their unique culture and abilities. So I find Evagail's comments rather self serving and hypocritical.
Sean
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