"...written over a span of thirty-odd years. They were meant to be first and foremost science fiction adventures, entertainment. Yet I tried, as well, to convey some feeling of how endlessly varied and wonderful the universe is in which we live, and to provoke a little thought about real history and politics."
-Poul Anderson, The Game Of Empire, INTRODUCTION, pp. 191-192 AT p. 191.
The Flandry series provokes a lot of thought about extra-terrestrial environments and evolution, political theory and practice, economic systems, real and future history, theology, physics, philosophy of mind and artificial intelligence. Some readers are still thinking.
Yup. Poul did more serious thought with rip-roaring adventure than a lot of scholars can pack into thick nonfiction studies.
ReplyDeleteHere I agree with both Paul and Stirling. Plus, Stirling has packed a lot of thought into his own stories.
ReplyDeleteWell, I do like SOME "...thick nonfiction studies"!
Ad astra! Sean