"Here ends the story of High America. But other worlds than Rustum were to receive the seed of Earth. Each responded in its own way to the men and women who had fled their own ruined planet...."
- IN Poul Anderson, New America (New York, 1982), p. 158.
This passage, presumably not written by the author, separates four Dan Coffin stories set on Rustum from "The Queen of Air and Darkness," set on Roland, and "Home," set on Mithras. Thus, we are presented with a generic future history in which:
Earth is "ruined";
Mithras exists in the same timeline as Rustum and Roland.
We would also have liked to read stories in which:
Coffin's grandchildren and great-grandchildren respond to newly arrived neo-Confucian colonists;
Rustumites have at last spread across the entire surface of their planet.
(I have got up early to catch a coach to London.)
9 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
But I don't think "Home" belongs in the same timeline as the Rustum series. That story makes no mention of any characters or places from it. And Earth is ruled in "Home" by a Directorate instead of the World Federation. What it does share with the Rustumite series is a STL means of getting to the stars.
"The Queen of Air and Darkness" does belong in the Rustum series because of that planet being mentioned. Presumably some time after Daniel Coffin's lifetime.
Ad astra! Sean
"Home" is set later -- the World Federation could well have become the Directorate.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
That is possible, I admit. Both "Home" and "The Alien Enemy" makes mention of the Directorate ruling Earth.
Ad astra! Sean
The Federation could have become the Directorate? OK. I will have to take that into account.
Kaor, Paul!
I don't think either "Home" or "The Alien Enemy" has anything in them making it too implausible to imagine them happening later in the Rustum timeline. The example of Rustum could have inspired people on Earth to begin founding more colonies. With the Directorate arising some time in that period.
Ad astra! Sean
I will have to reread these stories with this in mind.
Kaor, Paul!
A good idea. "The Alien Enemy" tells us the most about the Directorate.
Ad astra! Sean
The World Federation was visibly becoming more centralized and more of a unitary state.
Kaor, Paul!
Correct. NOT like a real, decentralized federation. AND increasingly oppressive.
Ad astra! Sean
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