"Pele," 2.
"Saxtorph and his crew had been en route from Jinx with a load of organics cheaper to grow there and haul here than to synthesize." (p. 12)
This idea, that faster than light travel, would make interstellar exporting economical is the premise of Poul Anderson's Polesotechnic League series but is it feasible? Will FTL ever happen and, if so, will it even then make economic sense to haul trade goods between planetary systems?
The following sentence presents a partial explanation:
"Centaurian industry hadn't fully recovered from the long kzin occupation." (ibid.)
So a fully recovered economy might be able to synthesize instead of to import? Saxtorph proceeds to a further speculation:
"Maybe - his mind wandered again for a second - it never would, but concentrate instead on whole new kinds of enterprises." (ibid.)
Yes! Brian Aldiss said that Poul Anderson gets us to another planet, then shows the same things happening there as on Earth. See Aldiss, Amis, Anderson, Asimov, Lewis. Let's have something new - even if it does lead to more of the same:
"Which ought to leave room for Rover to ply her trade." (ibid.)
- although, even then:
"But he didn't want her always just to be a tramp freighter." (ibid.)
He wants to carry scientists on an expedition to explore a new discovery. His partner, Peter Nordbo, responds:
"'In der Tat...'" (p. 13)
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Interstellar trade will make sense only if there is some means of FTL travel. And I have argued before that rare, costly, specialized, or luxury goods would naturally be bought and sold. And it makes sense, given FTL, if some goods are cheaper to import than to be made at home, then that too will occur.
And, of course, given FTL, space ships will be transporting people and information. Including research groups contracting ships for taking them to places of interest.
Ad astra! Sean
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