In Poul Anderson's multi-volume Technic History, organic beings traverse interstellar distances faster than light seeking and finding places to live, work and trade whereas, in the same author's later single volume future history, Genesis, post-organic intelligences traverse those same distances slower than light seeking and finding knowledge.
Two future histories could not possibly be more dissimilar and it must be impossible to imagine a third option equally different from both. One friend said that he preferred the earlier scenario whereas I like both and also appreciate the difference.
The number of known extra-solar planets makes life probable but how probable are intelligence, civilization, interstellar travel and FTL?
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
I agree, I like both of these very different scenarios Anderson gave us. I think he also gave us a third possibility as well, in the History of Rustum timeline, showing us mankind using STL space technology to settle the planets of other stars. Which we also see elsewhere, as in the last story of TALES OF THE FLYING MOUNTAINS.
We can't answer all the questions in your last sentence until humanity gets OUT into the galaxy, whether by STL or FTL means. At best, they would be answered very slowly and tentatively as long as we stay only on Earth!
Ad astra! Sean
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