Flandry's crew for his pursuit and capture of Svantovik, then for his mission into the Sky Cave, comprise:
eight human beings, none from Terra;
one horned, yellow-haired Schothanian;
two four-armed, gray-furred Gorzuni;
one centauroid Donarrian.
All three of the non-human species have appeared in previous installments of the Technic History. Each of these twelve crew members is a Terran citizen and a career Navy being with comprehensive weapons expertise. When they fight the Merseians, they are described as "The Terrans..." (XVII, p. 293) The meaning of the word, "Terran," can be extended that far - like, in the Terrestrial past, "Roman."
Similarly, Tabitha Falkayn, descended from the Hermetian David Falkayn, calls herself an Ythrian because her planet, Avalon, belongs to the Domain of Ythri, not to the Empire of Terra (Rise Of The Terran Empire, pp. 568-569) and the ychani/zmayi on Dennitza are Dennitzans, not "Merseians." On Earth, we have identified with successively larger collective entities. Poul Anderson projects this process onto an interstellar scale.
Flandry's parting from Kit on the concluding page (XVIII, p. 301) is sad and, in my opinion, to be regretted.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Yes, this wider use of "Terran," etc., reflects how humans placed more stress on the state or nation, not the race. To the enemies of the Empire all Imperial subjects and citizens, human or not, were Terrans.
While I agree the ending of WE CLAIM THESE STARS was sad, I thought it was appropriate, given Flandry's inability or unwillingness to settle down with a single woman.
Been working on a note discussing a major revision of my article about Sandra Miesel's Chronology of Technic Civilization. Based on our discussion of the six stories beginning with "Tiger By The Tail" and ending with WE CLAIM THESE STARS.
Ad astra! Sean
Go for it.
Kaor, Paul!
I did! I sent you my revision of my article about Sandra Miesel's Chronology of Technic Civilization.
Ad astra! Sean
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