Manse Everard last visited Amsterdam in 1952, thirty-four years ago. He is warned:
"'Things have changed, you know.'" (p. 478)
Of course they have. That is what this series is all about. Everard wonders whether that summer had really been so golden or whether he had simply been young, unburdened by knowledge. In this case, he is not too disappointed. He has learned not to revisit the Midwest of his boyhood.
Even for time travellers: tempora mutantur.
11 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
And the strong implication I got from Manse was that he disliked many of those changes. Not all changes, by far, are going to be good.
Ad astra! Sean
As an observation, if we ever invent eternal youth, social change will slow down drastically or possibly just halt altogether. People usually don't change much after their 20's.
An excellent point that I had never thought of before but there is a depth of meaning in "People usually..." I think that at least a minority would regard immortality as an opportunity for really long term learning, exploration and creativity and some of those people in turn would play leading social roles.
Paul: not if most people disliked them.
OK.
If rotating space habitats work out, people who don't like the way society is running where they are can move into such a habitat with like minded people and if desired move the habitat away from existing societies. Combine that with anti-aging tech and we get social change mostly happening on the fringes of the expansion of humanity.
BTW that was an appropriate comment for the anniversary of the launch of Sputnik 1.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling, Paul, and Jim!
Mr. Stirling: I agree, we see that slowing down/stopping of social change in Anderson's WORLD WITHOUT STARS and FOR LOVE AND GLORY. Mention was made of bored and frustrated younger generations leaving long settled planets to get out from under the thumbs of their parents, grand parents, great grand parents, great great grand parents, etc., etc.
After my unhappy experience with cervical myelopathy in 2022 I am not so sure of possibly living long enough to benefit from serious life extending meditech! (Smiles wryly)
Paul: I don't share this confidence you have in "education." That education can take many forms, including in ways you would not like. Or me for that matter.
Jim: But if a rotating habitat is large enough to have a considerable population then the kind of life extending we see in FOR LOVE AND GLORY means social change will slow/stop in that habitat as well.
Ad astra! Sean
"social change will slow/stop in that habitat as well."
Yes. So any young people who want something different will set up a newer habitat to suit their preferences.
Rinse & Repeat. So we get social change occurring more physically than temporally. The situation mentioned in "World Without Stars" and "For Love and Glory" will occur by artificial habitat rather than by finding habitable planets reached by FTL starship.
Kaor, Jim!
I can see the possibility of that in the scenario you suggested, disgruntled youngsters leaving to live as they liked in a new habitat. Assuming they could raise the capital for building a new O'Neill habitat. But I still think, assuming FTL is possible, many colonists would prefer to settle terrestroid planets.
Ad astra! Sean
Kaor, Jim!
Also, I would still consider O'Neill habitats dangerously vulnerable to attack in times of war or civil war, or barbarian raids. Much harder to wipe out everybody on a planet. Unless you want to "go Merseian" and exterminate everybody.
Ad astra! Sean
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