Wednesday, 2 October 2024

2051 A.D.

Poul Anderson, "The Big Rain" IN Anderson, The Psychotechnic League (New York, September 1981), pp. 131-280.

This story is set on Venus in 2051 A.D. If I am still alive by then, then I will be 102. James Blish's A Case Of Conscience, Book One, is set on Lithia in 2049; Book Two on Earth and the Moon in 2050. Gradually, tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow become all our yesterdays.

Robert Heinlein's Future History, Volume III, is Revolt In 2100, which is still a bit further away although by now we have engulfed his Volumes I and II.

You might guess that I am holding off from beginning to reread "The Big Rain" until tomorrow at the earliest. Apart from other reading, I want to watch some TV news because world events change from hour to hour. Poul Anderson's UN world government and Psychotechnic Institute would have regarded our timeline with horror. 

6 comments:

S.M. Stirling said...

Interesting how people's interactions with world news have changed since newspapers were the primary source, isn't it?

paulshackley2017@gmail.com said...

It is.

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Mr. Stirling!

And not always for the better, as what I've seen in chat rooms and the comment boxes of many websites for newspapers and magazines makes plain.

Ad astra! Sean

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Mr. Stirling!

It certainly has! And brought home to me the need to exercise some self control.

Ad astra! Sean

Stephen Michael Stirling said...

Also, newspapers have become increasingly like constantly-updated websites.

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Mr. Stirling!

Even when actually printed on paper?

Ad astra! Sean