(Black from Backpool. I mean...)
The t'Kelan "Ancients":
are scribes;
keep records;
practice medicine;
work metal;
make gunpowder;
sell fireworks;
keep cannon;
predict solar flares;
are regarded as magicians;
are reserved and intellectual;
lose some of their number to the nomads;
but also adopt those t'Kelans who tire of nomadism;
thus, get some genetic variation.
I would want to be an Ancient, studying history and science, and would welcome contact with the sky-folk especially when they offered ecological assistance.
9 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
But you would first need to be convinced the aliens were not trying to undermine your way of life!
Sean
Sean,
Yes but ways of life have to change especially when halting ecological collapse or finding a place in a bigger universe.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
And Nicholas van Rijn manages to find a way to persuade t'Kelans to change in ways they found acceptable or understandable in "Territory."
Sean
People are like dogs. T'kelans are more like social cats.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
I hope to be soon reading "Territory," but that does make sense.
Sean
"Yes but ways of life have to change especially when halting ecological collapse or finding a place in a bigger universe."
Perhaps ecological collapse is one of the factors in a hypothetical "Great Filter".
I just re-read PAs' "In Memoriam".... And I thought I was a "Gloomy Gus"!....
-kh
Kaor, Keith!
If you want some really grim stories by Anderson read "Welcome" and "Murphy's Hall"!
Sean
Thanks again, Sean. I remember "murphy's Hall, but not "Welcome". I'll look it up.
-kh
Kaor, Keith!
"Murphy's Hall" was a really alarming story. And "Welcome" has a shocker ending!
Sean
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