Is there a false dichotomy here? Through a multi-personal brain-computer linkage, Flora is invited to enter into a transcendent, unified consciousness but refuses because, she says, such a consciousness would negate her memories and identity. Why should it? Surely transcendence should incorporate and synthesize, not merely negate?
However, Poul Anderson presents a narrative in which all eight of the Survivors become increasingly dissatisfied on Earth and even in the Solar System and therefore decide as a group to leave the System. Travel between stars is the ultimate freedom in American sf. To sf readers, this outcome is entirely expectable and predictable. Other examples are Anderson's Orbit Unlimited, Heinlein's Methuselah's Children and Blish's They Shall Have Stars. But the onus remains on Anderson to show us something interesting when his characters get out there. That is the next stage of the narrative, of course.
Ad astra.
This evening, I will be at the sf group in the Gregson Institute, therefore not responding to comments for a while.
(I am convinced that Poul Anderson's texts warrant this amount of analysis and appraisal.)
9 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
And I favor and support this stress by American SF on frontiers. Moreover, frontiers can act as a safety valve, an outlet for those who are unhappy, frustrated, discontented, etc., at home. Without legitimate outlets the ambitious, frustrated/unhappy will become prone to political extremism and violence.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
Unless of course we use our resources and intelligence to build a society where unhappiness, frustration and discontent are ended. We have the means and should have the will to do it.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
And I don't believe that kind of society is at all likely. Better to have frontiers.
Ad astra! Sean
Better to have both.
If salt dissolves in water, all the salt is still in the water. But it's not the same.
Kaor, Paul and Mr. Stirling!
Paul: And I don't believe in what you hope for.
Mr. Stirling: Or as a certain Person said: "Salt is good; but if even the salt loses its strength, what shall it be seasoned with? It is fit neither for the land nor for the manure heap, but must be thrown out."
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
Well, of course you don't. Are we talking about what can happen or what will happen? I certainly do not know the latter.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
I too claim no knowledge of what the future will be like.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
So we can only identify tendencies and possibilities and decide which tendencies to encourage and which to oppose.
Paul.
Post a Comment