The Parliament of Man and the Great Khruath of the Ythrians have divided continental territory on Avalon between their two species. Ivar Holm thinks that:
"'It was a fair exchange. They turned over some mighty good prairie to us. We don't live by hunting and ranching the way they do. We can't use alps for anything but recreation - and not many of us ever did...'" (p. 426)
Human and Ythrian colonists began by occupying different islands in the Hesperians, then appointed a joint research and development team to consider continental colonization, so how did Ythrians come to be in possession of prairies in the first place? In any case, it is good to see two species cooperating instead of competing.
This is the second stage in a planetary history:
the two species will occupy different territories but then will become more integrated;
by the time of The People Of The Wind, many human beings have joined choths and therefore participate fully in Khruaths, not in Parliament;
by the time of The Day Of Their Return, we understand that Parliament has become obsolete;
in A Stone In Heaven, Dominic Flandry says that Avalon looks promising but does not vouchsafe any details.
History continues beyond our ken.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
And, during the chaos of the Long Night, I am skeptical that human political institutions will remain that atrophied. The urgent and greater need for defense would necessitate a heavier drawing on the human and material resources of Avalon--which in turn will restimulate political activities.
Assuming, of course, the Domain even survived. I've speculate that it too might be afflicted with its own forms of decline and decadence by then.
Ad astra! Sean
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