The first Others evolved on a planet that formed before the galaxy coalesced.
Possibly the lack of heavy metals obliged them to develop science and technology slowly, thus enabling them to harmonize themselves and their society with each stage of development before progressing to the next.
Alternatively, they might have adapted themselves, psychosomatically, to a quicker pace.
When the stars had coalesced, the Others traveled to them at near light speeds.
They met other intelligences and built the T machines.
Some other races joined them but most will not.
The Others value the diversity and free development of all species.
They help rarely and only when this will not harm the integrity of those helped.
They share the lives of many individual organisms through their avatars.
A carrier wave, obeying the laws of physics, enables the Others to merge their personalities, either partially or totally.
They can map the pattern of a personality onto another body, natural, artificial, organic or mechanical.
An Other can lead, then re-merge, different lives and can also transfer a personality from a dying body to one or more new ones.
Recorded personalities can be played back in a later consciousness.
They are neither monads nor an overmind but real and fluid individuals.
Soon human beings will become Others.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
How should we classify science fiction of the kind written by Poul Anderson in THE AVATAR? Stapledonian, after the works of Olaf Stapledon? If so, I think we can say Anderson surpassed him. Works like THE AVATAR, the four HARVEST OF STARS books, and GENESIS, seem far more READABLE and approachable than what seem to be the "remoteness," detachment, abstract speculations which apparently characteristic of Stapledon's work.
At the same time, some ideas in THE AVATAR seem too far fetched for me to swallow, at least to the extent of suspending disbelief. At least not without difficulty. Such as the Others merging, partially or wholly, individual personalities. Or transferring a personality from a dying body to a new one. But I do appreciate the boldness and daring of Anderson's speculations!
Sean
Sean,
The Others do what the post-organics do in GENESIS.
GENESIS is an ultimate Stapledonian novel.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
I agree! But, the MacGuffin in GENESIS, post-organic AIs, was rather hard to swallow. Which makes Anderson all the more to be COMMENDED, experimenting as he was with really extreme themes.
Sean
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