Hulduvians And Other Issues

"The Chapter Ends."

Human beings must evacuate the Galactic periphery because their way of controlling cosmic energy interferes with that of the Hulduvians who will colonize Jupiter, Saturn and other gas giant planets. But the Terrestrial peasants do not control cosmic energy so why should they have to evacuate? I suppose that there has to be a clean sweep. If any human beings were to remain in the periphery, then some of those at the Galactic center might try to re-contact them. Also, the Terrestrials' descendants might eventually develop technology, venture into space and start to manipulate the cosmic energy.

In Poul Anderson's Technic History, human beings and Ythrians peacefully settle different parts of the planet Avalon. In Anderson's Psychotechnic History, human beings and Hulduvians peacefully settle different parts of the Galaxy. Science fiction can point the way forward to inter-species cooperation and harmony. I need hardly add that sf can also export militarism and imperialism from the Solar System.

James Blish's pantropy series culminates with Adapted Men colonizing a changed Earth whereas Anderson's Psychotechnic History culminates with mankind leaving Earth. In both series, human beings have adapted to other environments but, in Anderson's series, they have retained the basic human form.

Anderson's Psychotecnic History occupies a unique position intermediate between Robert Heinlein's Future History and Anderson's Technic History. To my mind, the peak of American future historical writing is reached in The Earth Book Of Stormgate which is the culmination of the first main section of the Technic History.

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