When the Grand Survey ship visited Merseia:
"...political power was fragmented among the Vachs. The scientists, the engineers, the teachers were each under the patronage of one or another Hand." (p. 232)
Scientists, engineers and teachers of Merseia, unite! You have a universe to win. To be effective, even in support of their own Vachs, scientists in particular must operate across borders and share data. There must be a continual tension between effective science and Vach loyalties.
The Grand Survey crew do not intervene but they do make sure not to impart too much practical information.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I agree, there will be tension with many scientists between loyalty to their vachs/nations and the need to practice effective science.
The Grand Survey wisely declined to reveal much practical info to the Merseians they visited. But the mere fact FTL was real and practical would be a huge stimulus to science on Merseia, as seen by how STL interplanetary travel was achieved in only two centuries or so.
I recently purchased a copy of Andy Weir's third pub. novel, PROJECT HAIL MARY. He seems to be focusing on interplanetary SF within the Solar System.
Ad astra! Sean
"He seems to be focusing on interplanetary SF within the Solar System."
It's not much of a spoiler to say that at the end of the 3rd chapter you find that "Project Hail Mary" goes outside our solar system.
Kaor, Jim!
Good! And Poul Anderson would approve of that, both in fiction and for real.
Ad astra! Sean
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