When Forsquilis goes forth as an owl, she senses that the stars are more distant than anyone knew and that those vastnesses are cold. At this point, we remember that Poul Anderson wrote science fiction about interstellar travel. When Forsquilis goes forth again, she feels:
"'...cold winds blowing out of the future...'" (XIV, 1, p. 254)
Cold again. This time also, winds and the future, two highly significant words. We know that Forsquilis' future encompasses the destruction of Ys, the Fall of Rome, Dark Ages, Middle Ages, the modern period and whatever is to come after that, in some fictional futures interstellar travel...
The main fact about the future is that it is unknown, also that, sooner or later, it includes the deaths of everyone now living. In Poul Anderson's Technic History, an Ythrian sees the shadow of God the Hunter across the future. Forsquilis knows only that something unwelcome is coming.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
And I hope the real future soon sees at least the beginnings of interplanetary travel, with Elon Musk founding his hoped for colony on Mars.
Forsquilis would certainly find the destruction of Ys unwelcome!
Ad astra! Sean
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