Despite the defeat of a single Humanist in "Holmgang," the next story, "Cold Victory," is set some time after the successful Humanist Revolt and the outlawing of the Psychotechnic Institute. This "Psychotechnic History" is no longer on the course set for it by Valti and Fourre in the opening stories. We know, if we are already familiar with the series, that there will be a Galactic civilization with psychotechnicians many millennia later but that will be many millennia later. More immediately, the Humanists, having gained power, will just as quickly lose it although the Institute will not be reinstated.
"Cold Victory" begins on Mars with a conversation between:
a Martian academic;
a Planetary Engineer;
a kilted Venusian woman;
a Captain of the Solar Guard.
Anderson is making it easy for us, bringing them all together like this to discuss why Humanism was overthrown. A considerable amount of history has passed by very quickly. Since we have set out to appreciate a future history series, we do not object.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
In form, "Cold Victory" is a lot like "The Master Key." Or the framing Interludes in TALES OF THE FLYING MOUNTAINS.
Hmmm, shouldn't "Brake" come before either "Cold Victory" or THE SNOWS OF GANYMEDE?
Ad astra! Sean
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