In "The Chapter Ends," Jorun flies over uninhabited expanses on Earth:
wind-rippled plains like oceans of grass;
herds of wild cattle darkening the plains;
hoof beats like thunder in the earth;
hundreds of kilometers of old, mighty trees;
gleaming rivers piercing the forests;
fish leaping in lakes;
sunshine spilling like warm rain;
eye-hurting radiance;
swift cloud shadows;
all empty of man;
frightening vitality;
life covering earth, filling oceans and making heavens clangorous.
Jorun's grim planet has moors, crags and spindrift seas.
5 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
We should not forget the far grimmer "In Memoriam."
Ad astra! Sean
Although rural humans faced with abundant space tend to have high birth-rates.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
And that's good! I strongly dislike how the idea of being open to new life, having children, is regarded with such hostility in Western nations.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean: not just in Western nations. China's urban birth-rate is something like 0.5 children per woman. Even in Africa, birth-rates have fallen by over 50% in the past couple of generations and the decline is accelerating.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
And that is not going to be good if it goes too far. Disturbing.
Ad astra! Sean
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