Poul Anderson, The Earth Book Of Stormgate (New York, 1979), p. 434.
However, when the Technic History is collected in the seven-volume The Technic Civilization Saga, this afterword appears at the mid-point of Volume III, Rise Of The Terran Empire, even thought the Earth Book is written after the events of The People Of The Wind which appears at the end of Volume III. It follows that:
Hloch also writes after the events of "The Star Plunderer" and "Sargasso of Lost Starships," both of which appear between his afterword and The People Of The Wind;
Hloch writes during the Terran Empire period although before the lifetime of Dominic Flandry.
"The Star Plunderer," in which Mauel Argos proclaims the Terran Empire, is introduced not by Hloch of Stormgate Choth but by Donvar Ayeghen of the Galactic Archaeological Society who lives not only after Hloch but so long after the Terran Empire that he refers to it as the First Empire even though we have no information about any subsequent Empires.
I hope that I have conveyed what I meant by changing perspectives.
(I am currently unable to send emails but that this will be resolved by tomorrow.)
(It is resolved.)
9 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Just to be picky, I think of "The Star Plunderer" as showing us Manuel Argos PLANNING to found the Terran Empire. My views is that it took him years of political spade work before he was able to inaugurate the Empire.
Ad astra! Sean
In Hloth's time, there were probably a lot of standard texts, academic histories, etc., covering the founding of the Empire.
Note that it's very different from the Roman Empire that's otherwise a model -- it's the product of one man's efforts.
Rome's dominion was built over centuries, under the Republic. It was already a world-spanning pan-Mediterranean state by the late Republic, when the warlords started their competition for supreme power.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
One problem is that we don't really know much about the Time of Troubles, except in very broad terms. War lord struggles for power within Technic Civilization could have taken the form of adventurers seizing planets.
Yes, I'm sure Hloch had available to him plenty of standard texts, by humans and non-humans alike, covering the founding and rise of the Empire. I agree the Terran Empire HAD to be very different in many ways from the Roman Empire. Manuel Argos was able to draw on the history and experience accumulated since Augustus' time.
Yes, Rome had come to dominate the Mediterranean world long before the civil wars which ended the Late Republic and opened the way to the Empire.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
For whatever reason (just atmospheric, I hope), my email is not working again. Later, I might use the combox to pass on some info that would usually be emailed.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Many thanks! I did notice how you reposted comments which had somehow disappeared. Just a minor glitch, I hope.
Ad astra! Sean
Seam,
Email not connecting and blog comments disappearing are different problems, though. All is OK right now.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Good!
Sean
Paul: thanks again for your efforts to keep this blog going. It's been a delight.
Mr Stirling,
And thank you for your comments which enhance the blog no end.
Paul.
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