Thorkild Erling narrates "Gypsy" and describes the beginning of the long voyage of the Traveler that he hopes will never end.
Then:
"...the presidency of the Council was hereditary with the captain of the Traveler - third of that name in the three hundred years since the undying voyage began - and he was always a Thorkild." (p. 7)
Only the third! In a single sentence, Anderson links The Peregrine back to "Gypsy," future historically. This would have been the germ of a future history series even if there were not already links to other works.
Peregrine Joachim Henry, remembering his wife, Jere, reflects that:
"It was fifteen years now since she had made the Long Trip." (p. 4)
The Nomads' life is an undying voyage so, of course, they regard death almost as a continuation - the Long Trip.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
And there would have to be some kind of life extending technology for there to be only three Thorkild Council Presidents in 300 years.
Ad astra! Sean
Kaor, Sean!
I think what may be meant is that there have been three ships named Traveler, perhaps with earlier ships wearing out or being replaced by larger or more advanced ships. There may have been, in the course of three centuries, more than three captains of whichever ship currently bears the name of Traveler.
Best Regards,
Nicholas
Kaor, Nicholas!
That is one possibility, I agree. But, the mention of how the Presidency of the Council of Captains was hereditary in the Thorkild family led me to think there had been only three Thorkild Presidents in the 300 years leading up to the events seen in THE PEREGRINE. I think this second alternative more likely, while not denying the "Traveler" might well have been replaced by a larger/more advanced ship. It's possible Anderson had both in mind.
Ad astra and regards! Sean
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