"[Hanno] did not attempt to change their attitudes. He knew better; and he knew, as well, how to pass lifetime after mortal lifetime among strangers to his spirit." (p. 551)
I empathize with Hanno and can imagine learning such lessons over a very long time.
Poul Anderson: Hugh Valland and Hanno
Robert Heinlein: Lazarus Long (but only the Methuselah's Children version!)
James Blish: John Amalfi
Neil Gaiman: Hob Gadling
There are others, of course.
Long has reason to believe that he will never die.
Amalfi lives until the end of this universe which Blish brings unexpectedly close for fictional purposes.
Gadling has an agreement with personified Death so he is a fantasy character.
I might find a vaguely remembered passage in which Amalfi reflects on the consequences of longevity.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Yes, Hanno was right not trying to change what could not be helped.
Skeptical about Lazarus Long--I think some accident or act of violence would eventually kill him.
Ad astra! Sean
My father lived to 92 and sometimes said he felt like a time traveler.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
Outside of science fiction we all have to time travel the hard way.
Ad astra! Sean
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