The two 1979 versions of the Chronology describe "21st C" as "century of recovery." Hopefully it will be, although that "recovery" has not yet started at the beginning of the third decade of the century. Remember when every year beginning 20-- was still in the future and when every work of fiction set in the twenty-first century was sf?
The 1983 Chronology repeats that "21st C" is "century of recovery" but adds that "The Saturn Game" is set in this century. The 2009 Chronology drops "21st C" and "century of recovery," instead informing us that "The Saturn Game" occurs ca. 2055. This date is based on the fact that the story begins with a fictional quotation dated 2057 whereas every other year date in the Chronology is speculative.
The Earth Book Chronology states that Molitor not only succeeds Josip but also supplants a short-lived Imperial relative after a brief civil war whereas the A Stone In Heaven Chronology adds the term, "Interregnum," and states that Molitor rules when Josip has died after three years of civil war. The 1983 and 2009 Chronologies repeat what is said in A Stone In Heaven. However, it seems that a grammatical or layout error is corrected. A Stone In Heaven has:
4 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
And any SF story set after AD 2021 is still in the future.
And I favor the readings for that annalistic note used by the Gregg Press and in the EARTH BOOK: "Hans Molitor succeeds Josip as Emperor. Supplants short-lived Imperial relative as Emperor after brief civil war." The variants you quoted could be interpreted as meaning Josip died after three years of civil war. However, we know from A KNIGHT OF GHOSTS AND SHADOWS that this civil war began only after Josip died and his heir was unable to keep the throne.
And what was meant by that "Interregnum" was that the Principate phase of the Empire was over and it was entering a dangerously unstable period marked by civil wars and quieter struggles for power. A phase which Chunderban Desai expected to last at least 50 to 80 years before the Empire regained a scarred kind of unity in its Dominate phase. We see the beginning of that Interregnum in the reigns of Hans and his two sons.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
It is clear that the suggestion that Josip died after 3 years of civil war was a grammatical error which was eventually corrected.
Paul.
Sean,
I think that "Interregnum" means the period between Josip's death and the beginning of Molitor's unopposed rule. "Between reigns."
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Your first comment above: Correct, a grammatical error later corrected. FLANDRY'S LEGACY has this version of the note in Miesel's Chronology: "Interregnum: Josip dies. After three years of civil war, Hans Molitor will rule as sole emperor." The error is corrected, albeit mention of Josip's unlucky heir was omitted.
Your second comment: strictly from a literal POV, I have to agree. Best understood as the period between Josip's death and Hans' unopposed rule. But I would still take note of Desai's discussion in A KNIGHT OF GHOSTS AND SHADOWS.
Ad astra! Sean
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