The Gwydiona could easily construct spaceships by building a hull around a thermonuclear powerplant, a gravity beamer and a secondary-drive (hyperdrive) pulse generator. However, when Raven suggests this, his host, Dawd, goes pale and shouts, "'No!'" (p. 561) Recovering his equilibrium, he explains:
"'We do not use atomic power. Sun, water, tides, and biological fuel cells, with electric accumulators for energy storage, are sufficient.'" (ibid.)
This aversion to atomic power and emphasis on renewables is familiar to us but why do the Gwydiona do it?
First, they were hit by an atomic blast back during the Breakup so maybe that put them off atomics? Secondly, maybe they unconsciously know that there are periods when it would not be a good idea for them to have access to such potentially destructive power?
Next, we will ask a question about that reference to the Breakup.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
And we know of those "periods" when nuclear power would indeed be very dangerous for the Gwydiona to have!
Ad astra! Sean
I think it's the subconscious knowledge that they're mindlessly aggressive with no thought of consequences at times that makes them shy away from atomics.
They effectively take all their aggressive/violent impulses and concentrate them in one fit.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
That makes sense. And it fits in with the preparations made by the Gwydiona for Bale Time, like placing infants, temporarily cared for by robots in massively fortified structures. Taking precautions even tho the Gwydiona disclaimed knowing why they did so while "sane."
Ad astra! Sean
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