The surface of the rogue planet, Satan, is covered with frozen oceans and by ten to twenty metres of frozen atmosphere. Its temperature is close to absolute zero. Nevertheless, the magnetic field indicates that part of the planetary core is still molten. As in Norse mythology, the dialectical opposites of heat and cold interact. Mantle, crust and frozen surface insulate core heat.
As Satan falls toward Beta Crucis, its cryosphere dissolves. Glaciers melt into torrents which boil into winds. Melting ice moves masses. Mountains rise. Shifting intra-global pressures release energy that melts rocks. Thousands of volcanoes erupt. There are geysers, hail, rain and boulders whirled aloft by gales/tempests/hurricanes.
Some of the drama in Poul Anderson's works is in natural events alone. The novel is mainly about the industrial potential of a re-energized uninhabited planet. Without a nearby technological civilization, the transformation of Satan would have passed unnoticed with no extraplanetary consequences.
6 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I am not sure "dialectical opposites" is correct. Wouldn't "diametrical opposites" be less confusing?
Mention was also made, I think, that humans would enjoying watching such violent transformations on Satan--from a safe distance!
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
"Dialectical" because they interact and transform each other instead of remaining static.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
But "dialectical" reminded me of "dialects," more or less closely related variants of the same language. And I've seen "dialectical" used for that purpose--as in dialectical variants of English. So it seemed odd to use it for describing what happened on Satan.
Ad astra! Sea
Sean,
There are two meanings. "Interaction between opposites" is a philosophical meaning. The meaning referring to linguistic dialects would not have fitted here.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
I don't think most people would be aware of that philosophical sense for "dialectical." So a different word less likely to be misunderstood would be better.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
Well, ok. "Dialectical materialism," as against "mechanical materialism," is a concept and an issue in philosophy.
Paul.
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