Gwydion and Lochlann, two planets introduced in The Night Face;
Atheia and Kraken, two planets introduced in The Game Of Empire.
The problems in The Night Face were: what do the Gwydiona mean when they say that, during their "Bale time," they "become God" and why do they prepare against some kind of physical danger during that time? (Phrased like that, the question implies its answer: the Gwydiona periodically go mad and harm each other.)
The problem in "The Sharing of Flesh" is: why does the primitive population of Lokon universally practice cannibalism?
These are disturbing questions but Anderson's point is that, in the future and in extraterrestrial environments, humanity will change so what will it change into?
"'Sometimes the inhabitants of two planets are actually intersterile because of their differences.'"
-Poul Anderson, "The Sharing of Flesh" IN Anderson, Flandry's Legacy (Riverdale, NY, 2012), pp. 661-708 AT p. 688.
This single sentence anticipates a personal tragedy for two characters at the end of the concluding installment, "Starfog."
7 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
And in the context of your recent discussions of THE NIGHT FACE, what interested me about the mention of Gwydion in "The Sharing of Flesh" was how the Allied Planets INTERDICTED Gwydion. It was prohibited for anyone to land there. Apparently it was thought too risky or problematic to attempt to do anything about the genetically based addiction of the Gwydiona to the Bale flower and the annual madness it causes them.
Sean
I would imagine that genetic technology would solve that problem.
Dear Mr. Stirling,
Possibly, and I hope so! But, perhaps the Gwydiona refused any offers of such help, perhaps because they denied, while sane, there was any need for it. A refusal to accept such help might have led the Allied Planets to interdict Gwydion to off planet visitors.
Sean
Sean,
I have just reread "The Sharing of Flesh" and have missed any references either to "Allied Planets" or to interdiction of Gwydion but I had better check back through the text.
Paul.
I have found the Allied Planets on the second page of the text.
Kaor, Paul!
And there’s a reference to Nuevamerica, specifically to a Nuevamerican whom Evalyth avoids, because the doesn’t want the Nuevamerican’s clumsy attempt to offer condolences. The name of this person, if I recall correctly, is Ailsabetta Mondain (I’m visiting relatives, and don’t have Anderson’s books with me).
Best Regards,
Nicholas
Nicholas,
Without checking it, you are essentially correct.
Paul.
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