Familiar stars and their hypothetical planetary systems receive multiple uses in sf. We remember the very different significances of Centaurus and of Alpha Crucis in other works by Poul Anderson.
Initially unexplained background details are elucidated in subsequent chapters. David Ryerson intends to emigrate to a planet called Rama and his father mentions "'..the quarantine on Washington 5584...'" (2, p. 16) What is Washington 5584 and how is it connected to Rama?
"'Rama. The third planet of Washington 5584.'
"'Hm? On, yes. The new one, the Go dwarf.'" (5, p. 32)
Rama has passed a five-year survey test. Next, it must be quarantined for its first thirty years of colonization. Extra-solar planets present many dangers, like a plague on New Kashmir and a virus on Gondwana. Earth, with its population of ten billion and much land sterilized by radiation, demands resources from its struggling colonies. We understand an earlier reference to "'...exploitation...'" (3, p. 22)
During a tense conversation between David Ryerson and his father:
"Silence fell between them. They heard the wind as it mourned under their eaves, and the remote snarling of the sea." (2, p. 17)
Of course. Father and son are in conflict. Appropriately, the wind mourns and the sea snarls while the mourning besieges their dwelling.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
And in other stories by both Anderson and fellow SF writers doubt was stated about how it was unlikely either a substantially significant percentage of Earth's population leaving for other worlds or resources from those planets being imported/levied as tribute to support Earth. And I agree, interstellar trade would most likely be in luxuries, rare, or costly goods, such as specialized manufactured items. Trying to import or ship out things like wheat or potatoes in bulk makes no sense.
To say nothing, of course, of how there is reason to be concerned that Earth has too few people!
Ad astra! Sean
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