The Traveler, carrying colonists to Alpha Centauri by hyperdrive, was flung thousands of light-years off course by an as yet unexplained accident. The crew searched for Sol for over twenty years, then settled on an uninhabited terrestroid planet which they called Harbor. Erling Thorkild, born in the ship, raises sons on Harbor. When Thorkild voted to continue the search for Earth, it was the search itself that he wanted, not a planet that he had never seen. Thus, Nomad culture originated during that search.
Sailing on Earth would be different from on Harbor:
the sea would be full of boats, mostly powered;
aircraft would be overhead;
buildings would be on every shore;
sailors would not have the sea to themselves.
So why go to Earth? Thorkild never wanted to. But a return to space to find and explore new planets is another matter.
2 comments:
"For it is not in the bright arrival planned
But in the journeying along the way
We find the Golden Road to Samarkand."
Kaor, Paul and Mr. Stirling!
Paul: Just a small mistake in your first sentence. I think you meant to write "The 'Traveler,' carrying colonists to Alpha Centauri by hyperdrive, was flung thouands of LIGHT years off course..."
Both: Yes, I agree restlessness and perhaps boredom was what really drove Erling Thorkild and others of a similar cast of mind into leaving Harbor. I simply still have my doubts about the PRACTICALITY of a space based nomadic culture if a FTL drive is available. A point which I believe needs more attention.
Also, as long as other human planets had not yet been rediscovered, I think it would make sense for the "Traveler" to periodically return to Harbor, to replenish supplies, make necessary repairs and do needed maintenance, etc. To say nothing of simply making contact with other humans.
Ad astra! Sean
Post a Comment