Trade
Heinlein: Free Traders;
Asimov: Foundation Traders and Merchant Princes;
Blish: Okie cities;
Anderson: the Polesotechnic League, Kith, Nomads;
Cherryh: merchanters.
War
Do I need to write a list?
Sf writers project their own civilization onto the galaxy. I think that peaceful exploration and colonization are more probable. Since interstellar travelers must carry their environment with them, colonization need not be of planetary surfaces although the number of exo-planets now being discovered makes planetary colonies more plausible.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Of the examples you listed, I found Anderson's speculations about how interstellar trade might work, at both STL and FTL, the most plausible (I've read too little of Cherryh's work to comment on it). I esp. appreciated the thought Anderson gives for explaining why the Kith culture was declining in the later part of STAR FARERS.
Anderson shows us the merchants of the Polesotechnic League trading in goods that some planets find too costly to make themselves and cheaper to import from others. There would also be trade in luxury goods, technologies, and works of art. All of which I think is plausible, given FTL.
Unfortunately, I don't think war over interstellar distances implausible, assuming FTL. If two intelligent races are enough like each other to desire the same kind of planets, then that along virtually GUARANTEES conflict. To say nothing of conflicts caused by opposing ideas.
War would be much more difficult and, well, SLOW if all you have is STL tech. But Anderson gives us some thought even to that in "Time Lag." With a strong implication that STL war would tend to favor the defenders.
Ad astra! Sean
War is a branch of politics; anywhere serious political interaction is possible, war is possible.
Note that Switzerland has never fought a war with Tibet -- but Swiss have been involved in a -lot- of conflicts in Italy, France and Germany.
So interstellar war would depend on the time and cost of interstellar transport. If fast and cheap, yes. If very slow and expensive, no.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
I have read Vegetius, Sun Tzu, and Clausewitz, so I totally agree, as they would, that war is a branch of politics. And war will be possible, IMO, off Earth as well.
Yes, I knew that at one time the Swiss were as bellicose as any of their neighbors! Till a crushing defeat by France brought home the wisdom of not trying to punch above their height.
I agree with your last statement. Anderson shows us the risks of trying to wage an interstellar war at STL in "Time Lag." The aggressor has to HOPE the defenders will make only mistakes--and hope is not a good way to WIN.
Ad astra! Sean
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