Saturday, 3 August 2024

Four Confer

OK. The pyramidal structure of a future history series again. In Mirkheim, XII, four characters confer:

Nicholas van Rijn was introduced in "Margin of Profit";

David Falkayn was introduced in "The Three-Cornered Wheel";

Coya Conyon-Falkayn was introduced in "Lodestar";

Eric Tamarin is the son of van Rijn and of Sandra Tamarin who were together in The Man Who Counts;

van Rijn refers to the Shenna affair which was described in Satan's World;

they discuss Mirkheim, which was introduced in "Lodestar," and the Baburites, who were introduced in "Esau."

But, at the same time, new information is introduced:

David and Coya have married and started a family;

the existence of Eric;

the nature of the Hermetian state (Falkayn, Sandra and Eric are Hermetians and Sandra is now Grand Duchess);

the role of the Home Companies in the Polesotechnic League and the Solar Commonwealth.

Historical changes occur in the lifetimes of individuals.

3 comments:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

I also thought of the Hermetian aristocracy, the Thousand Families, whose leaders were the presidents of the domains of the Families and formed the electoral college choosing the grand duke or duchess from members of the Tamarin family.

Uniquely, these domains evolved from the companies which colonized Hermes. The Families descended from the owners of the companies, with the Followers evolving from the stock owners.

It reminds me of Venice, whose aristocracy descended from merchants, who then elected the Doges.

Ad astra1 Sean

S.M. Stirling said...

Sandra had her affair with van Rijn for eugenic reasons, IIRC.

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Mr. Stirling!

She did, thinking many Hermetians of the aristocracy were becoming too inbred. Sandra wanted a strong and able man to be the father of her child.

Ad astra! Sean