Joe has never been on Earth or on:
"'...any of the great worlds of the Galaxy." (p. 28)
Working his way along trade-lanes, he has seen only:
"'...obscure and backward planets." (p. 29)
This contradicts the idea that human beings have only recently moved into interstellar space. Instead, Earth is already one of the great worlds of the entire galaxy.
Pete describes Terrestrial civilization not only as satisfactory but even as "'...integrate...'" (ibid.) Have the aims of the Psychotechnic Institute been achieved since the Second Dark Ages? Human beings who have never been on Earth would not be happy there because it is necessary to grow up in an integrate civilization to like it. OK. Some major change has happened on Earth. Is this reflected in later stories? Maybe in The Peregrine.
Extra-solar colonies are for people who need room or endless activity. Social value is regarded as more important than economic value. Is this attitude expressed anywhere else in the Psychotechnic History? Joe, who sounds like a Native American commenting on white men, says that it is self-evident. Joe is clearly spying, asking the child Pete questions even about human populations. (See here.)
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
I also think people will eventually leave Earth because, for different reasons or causes, they will be malcontents who might even become violent if there was no outlet for them. So I believe large and small groups will leave to settle other worlds and found societies, good and bad alike, more to their liking.
Ad astra! Sean
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