In American sf, interstellar travel is the ultimate symbol of freedom both because it implies unlimited flight beyond the constraints of the Solar System and because it can also be presented as the ultimate escape from a repressive regime on Earth:
"...Rinnaldir...said more than once, like when recruiting for the migration, that the Oort Cloud itself is too close to Earth. Nothing less than an interstellar passage could give gap enough to stay free, to keep from being swallowed up eventually by the Federation.'" (p. 453)
The speaker in this passage, Aleka, adds, "'His idea of freedom, not mine.'" (ibid.)
This theme of escape from "the Federation" or an equivalent can also be found in:
Robert Heinlein's Future History, Volume III, Methuselah's Children
Poul Anderson's Rustum History
SM Stirling's Draka History
James Blish's Cities In Flight, Volume I, They Shall Have Stars
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
And MANY people today, in our real world, including myself, would sympathize with Rinnaldir's view! I have read of how at least 500,000 people have have expressed willingness to sign up with Robert Zubrin's proposed Mars One plan for colonizing the Red Planet. I am sure many did so out of how resentful and frustrated they feel from living under regimes they consider oppressive. And there are many such people in the US as well!
Mars is not a planet orbiting another star or even a planetoid like Proserpina, in or near the Oort Cloud. But many people would consider making a fresh start on Mars at least the beginning of such efforts, a first stage on the way to the stars. An attitude I agree with!
Ad astra! Sean
It's historically logical in an American context. Nearly all the American colonies of Britain were founded by people with "reasons to leave". Apart from the economically frustrated and ambitious, political and religious dissidents were crucial in many initial settlements -- Catholics in Maryland, Quakers in Pennsylvania, Congregationalists in New England (or Separatists in Plymouth). Georgia was founded to provide new opportunities for a whole range of nonconformists, starting with English debtors and moving on through persecuted religious minorities from Europe.
Even Ontario was founded by refugees -from- the American Revolution, the UEL's (United Empire Loyalists).
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
I agree! I am sure many of the first colonists leaving Earth for other worlds will be political and religious malcontents. And other types feeling themselves frustrated and smothered on the home world. Or because some people want to preserve an ethnic heritage.
And I have heard of the United Empire Loyalists!
Ad astra! Sean
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