Wealth And Sacredness

"The Season of Forgiveness."

On Ivanhoe, the dwellers in the ruined city of Dahia remember that their imperial ancestors had ruled territories that have, for the past five thousand years, been deserts inhabited by nomads. Polesotechnic League merchants build their base within the city where they have access to a large stable work force but negotiate with the nomads of the Black Tents for trade in the valuable adir herb. Will mere nomads become rich while the Dahians who still faithfully serve the gods of an ancient empire remain weak? Never. After many centuries, the Dahians suddenly declare an interest in the deserts. Even if war destroys trade, honour will not be lost. And how can the merchants broker peace? They are powerful but (apparently) motivated only by profit, not by anything sacred - until they celebrate the birth of one who came to Earthlings to speak of peace and of much else. These merchants should have special wisdom during the season of their Prince of Peace. 

Although Nicholas van Rijn is not in this story, we recognize his touch. Although he is a master profit-maker, van Rijn has his own sense of sacredness and also knows how to motivate human and non-human beings with very dissimilar value-systems. It is appropriate that, in The Technic Civilization Saga, "How To Be Ethnic In On Easy Lesson," about student James Ching, and "The Season of Forgiveness," about apprentice Juan Hernandez, are collected in a volume entitled The Van Rijn Method.

In two stories, Poul Anderson presents three different Ivanhoan societies and Ivanhoans later join the Supermetals company. 

Hibernating Talwinians resemble Ganesh. Ivanhoans resemble Aslan.