Flying soundlessly over western North America, Trevelyan Micah sees:
vastness
greenness
forest
rivers
grass
isolated houses
small villages
reflected sunlight -
- and reflects that transportation, communication and socioeconomic unity have made Earth a single city.
Are vastness and greenness a "city"? It all depends on how we use words. Lancaster City District encompasses not only streets and buildings but also fields and countryside. As the train hastens through the village of Galgate, then between more fields with the University on a hill to the right, a recorded voice announces that we are now approaching Lancaster whereas all that we are really approaching is Lancaster Railway Station. We are already well within the boundaries of the city.
Cities include parks and the planet-wide city on Terra in the Terran Empire period of Poul Anderson's Technic History includes massive landed estates.
Future cities are big in sf.
5 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
For administrative purposes, I can imagine the Terra of the Imperial era being divided into separate cities in the Technic series. E.g., I would not expect Admiralty Center to be governed exactly the same way as the Mayoralty Palatine of Britain or Archopolis. Different purposes, functions, locations would affect what would be thought best.
Lancaster might still exist as a district of Britain in Flandry's lifetime!
Ad astra! Sean
I think the traditonal definition of a city as "built-up area" is satisfactory. Of course, I also think Oglethorpe's original plan for Savanna should have been used universally instead of the grid. It's actually a very efficient plan, and self-regulates traffic speeds.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
No objection, "built up area" works for me. Will be looking up Oglethorpe/Savannah.
The oldest quarter of Boston, MA has what I can only call a downright medieval tangle of narrow, winding streets.
Ad astra! Sean
I recall reading that to drive in Boston you need to think like a 17th century cow. ;)
Kaor, Jim!
Haaa!!! Far too true. It was terrifying for me, trying to drive in Boston.
Ad astra! Sean
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