Historical Transition

"Progress."

The transition from "The Sky People" to "Progress" is a wrench because "Progress" begins in the midst of the action with different characters although there is early evidence of historical continuity when the words "N'Zealann," "Maurai" and "Lohannaso" soon appear in the text. (pp. 74-75)

The phrase:

"For centuries after the War of Judgment..." (p. 84)

- suggests a longer timescale than that implied in There Will be Time where it seems that rebellion against Maurai dominance begins when the Eyrie moves to Phase Two in the twenty-second century.

In "The Sky People," Ruori Lohannaso first reflects that Maurai political psychologists should be able to "divide-and-rule" (p. 34) the Sky People and later explicitly suggests that Meycan missionary and cultural influence will civilize them over "'...a century or two.'" (p. 67) In "Progress," we read:

"Relations between the Sea People and the clans of southwest Merica remained fairly close, however little direct trade went on. After all, missions from Awaii had originally turned those aerial pirates to more peaceable ways." (p. 88)

When Ranu says that the Maurai Federation sends psychodynamic teams to redirect the energies of barbarians, a Merican responds:

"'Just like you did with my ancestors, eh?'" (p. 92)

So it seems that Ruori's "...century or two..." have elapsed and this explains the absence of character continuity. It is at this point that the Maurai stories become a future history series, however brief.