After the First Man-Kzin War, impoverished veterans of both sides drink together, then work together. Economic necessity is a powerful force. Suddenly, a man and two kzinti have common interests: good pay; safe working conditions etc. Unfortunately, not everyone sees it that way. Rough-sleeping kzinti are vulnerable to attack by exterminationist fanatics.
Poul Anderson's Technic History presents examples of inter-species integration:
human and Ythrian Avalonians resist the human-dominated Terran Empire to remain within the Domain of Ythri;
green hunters welcome Kossara;
Flandry and Kossara march with Merseians to the Dennitzan Parliament.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
I'm more inclined to be skeptical about notions like the "brotherhood of beings." See esp. Commander Abrams' criticisms of such ideas in ENSIGN FLANDRY. That said, I certainly don't disagree with humans and non humans finding enough in common to enable them to live together more or less peacefully. I simply argue it won't be that simple, easy, or quick!
And it was fortunate for the Empire itself that Avalon successfully resisted annexation by Terra. Because otherwise, centuries later, there would not have been a Ythrian agent of the Domain from that planet to have been crucial in thwarting Aycharaych and Merseia in THE DAY OF THEIR RETURN.
Ad astra! Sean
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