Sunday, 18 May 2025

Three Spaceships

Here is an exercise for a Poul Anderson fan. Compare the descriptions and abilities of Muddlin' Through, Hooligan and Jaccavrie:

the trade pioneer crew's spaceship with its consciousness-level computer, Muddlehead;

Dominic Flandry's private speedster;

the ship of a Commonalty Ranger, controlled entirely by a conscious computer.

(The phrase, "conscious computer," requires some discussion but we have been through this issue often enough before.)

Hooligan's abilities are summarized in A Stone In Heaven, VI. Jaccavrie appears only in "Starfog." Muddlin' Through is in every instalment that features Nicholas van Rijn's first trade pioneer crew. 

I am not going to do it. I have saddled myself with some other heavy reading because I think that it is necessary to clarify the mind-body problem as much as possible. The question can at least be clarified. My life began with received answers and approaches its end with questions. 

6 comments:

S.M. Stirling said...

Though the basics -- fusion power, FTL, control of gravity -- are common to all three ships. The difference is in the details.

paulshackley2017@gmail.com said...

Good summary. Better than I would have done.

Jim Baerg said...

"My life began with received answers and approaches its end with questions."
Better to have unanswerable questions than unquestionable answers.

paulshackley2017@gmail.com said...

My sentiment, exactly.

Anonymous said...

Kaor, Paul and Jim!

Questions should lead to answers. Bishop Henry Graham, in his memoir FROM THE KIRK TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, discussed how his increasing doubts and dissatisfaction with the Presbyterian Calvinism of Scotland led him to becoming a Catholic.

Ad astra! Sean

paulshackley2017@gmail.com said...

Sean,

Of course questions should lead to answers. The answers that I am finding are not Catholic.

Paul.