CS Lewis wrote somewhere that only the first visit to another planet is of interest to imaginative readers. When the planet has become familiar to the characters, why read about it? Well, Hermes, Avalon, Dennitza etc are new to us the first time we read about them and remain interesting on rereading.
It follows that Lewis would be uninterested in Poul Anderson's account of Mars when human beings have lived there for centuries. Economic reasons for continuing to live on Mars have declined although social reasons persist, a plausible scenario.
The desert terrain and the presence of armed freedom fighters (see Inrai) make this version of Mars sound like a future Middle East.
Kinna Ronay, brought up on Mars, is educated about the outer universe and has even had a virtual experience of the Mermaid Tavern. For other Mermaid Taverns, see here.
2 comments:
Does Earth cease to be interesting because we've been here? Lewis is making a rather bizarre claim.
Kaor, Paul!
I agree with Stirling, here Lewis is making a very ODD claim! One I disagree with.
Ad astra! Sean
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