Manse Everard learns of evolution to Danellians and the need to guard that future.
Jack Havig observes the Star Masters civilization, then learns that he brings it about.
Malcolm Lockridge visits the "time wardens" period that comes after the time war between Rangers and Wardens.
Martin Saunders travels through future civilizations, the Galactic Empire, "gods," the end of Earth and the end and beginning of the universe.
All good stuff, one from Wells and four from Poul Anderson.
Into the future.
8 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Except Everard was not always sure of the benevolence of the Danellians.
Ad astra! Sean
Yeah, the Danellians are just incomprehensible to human beings. They can be apparently benevolent or ruthless, depending on circumstances.
For example, the time-shift where the Carthaginians win the Punic Wars ends up with a civilization that has no concept of real science -- they have steam cars, but they think Mars is a planet of witches. Humanity would stay confined to Earth until Earth perished.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
Which is why I regard the Danellians very warily!
Assuming the Carthaginian scenario we might still be reading sheep entrails and think building a mud-brick ziggurat the height of technology.
Ad astra! Sean
It was the Neldorians, not the Danellians, that initiated the Carthaginian timeline.
Kaor, Paul!
I know, but I was thinking of other stories besides "Delenda Est," such as "The House of Sorrow." Without Judaism/Christianity mankind might never have gone beyond entrail reading and ziggurat building.
Ad astra! Sea
Sean: Christianity was a necessary, tho' not sufficient, precondition. One of the disadvantages of Classical civilization was that they didn't conceive of the universe as obedient to universal laws, which may have explained why they came near to science but didn't quite make it. OTOH, Western Catholic Christianity took a turn in the 13th century with Thomas Aquinas, who held that science could not contradict revealed religion -- Islam had the same controversy at about that time, and the opposite side won, which crippled them.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
Considering how some philosophers, such as Plato and Aristotle, did reason their way to belief in s sole God, it does seem odd how Classical civilization didn't work further implications, such as God obeying His own laws. And Thomas Aquinas (and recent popes like John Paul II) were right, truths revealed via divine revelation does not contradict the discoveries of science.
I have heard of that controversy within Islam, altho I've forgotten the names of the opposing factions. And the decision imposed by the victorious party continues to cripple Islam--accounting for why it's been so intellectually backward for nearly a thousand years.
Ad astra! Sean
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