When a spaceship is in space for long enough, there is history inside it as well as back in the Solar System which it has left far behind. The Pioneer is launched in 2126 and we read about events that occur on board in 2206. Evan Friday who is only twenty-four in 2206 will be sixty-seven when the Pioneer arrives at Alpha Centauri in 2249. Friday studies ship history and I am amazed at how much detail Poul Anderson has fitted into this single story. See History In The Pioneer. I do not need to summarize all that again.
This evening, having seen Father Brown on TV, it only remains to return to the adventures of the Sicilian police inspector, Salvo Montalbano. Occasionally, Montalbano says or does or something that resonates with the fictional futures of Poul Anderson but hopefully not this evening.
"Good Eating," to quote Robert Heinlein's generation ship story.
"Expansion to your Ego," to quote Brian Aldiss' generation ship story.
"High is heaven and holy," to quote Poul Anderson's, and sf's, best future history series.
8 comments:
Poul was very deft with what you might call 'backup detail' suggesting depth and breadth.
Kaor, Paul and Mr. Stirling!
Paul: Your comments reminded me of how fortunate we are to have St. Gregory of Tours' HISTORY OF THE FRANKS, and St. Bede's HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH CHURCH AND PEOPLE. Without them our knowledge of early Merovingian Gaul and Anglo-Saxon England would be immensely poorer. Esp, when we recall how much was lost after the Western Empire fell.
Mr. Stirling: I agree! And I esp. enjoyed how, in some of your works, many or all chapters begin with quotes from fictional sources. Like an alternate ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA in your Lords of Creation books.
Ad astra! Sean
Did anyone use the quote from a fictional reference book technique before Asimov quoting from the 'Encyclopedia Galactica'?
Kaor, Jim!
I can't recall anyone earlier than Asimov using that fictional reference book technique. At least in the science fiction genre.
Ad astra! Sean
Jim: we all learn from our predecessors!
That's one of the funny/sad things about 'mainstream' authors venturing into SF/F. They tend to think they're being inventive and brilliant when they end up reinventing the wheel.
Karor, Mr. Stirling!
I agree. To say nothing of how most mainstream literature bores me. Maybe, if Elon Musk founds his colony on Barsoom, one of the results will be a shaking up of literature. Because, with humans then other worlds, writers will have more to work on than tedious stories of kinky sex and middle class angst.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean: 'mainstream' fiction is just a genre that happens to punch above its weight because of academic English departments.
But fear not, enrollment in those is cratering.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
Good! I"m sure as heck not weeping for them. Those bungling hacks have managed to spoil reading and literature for untold millions of people!
Ad astra! Sean
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