"The principles of the hyperdrive are difficult enough, involving as they do the concept of multiple dimensions and of discontinuous psi functions." (p. 20)
But, in "The Pirate":
"...once [another spaceship] went over to the tachyon mode, only a weak emission of super-light particles was available." (p. 219)
- "available" for tracking purposes.
Sound like two completely different means of faster than light travel although in the same future history series?
Elsewhere in space and time:
"'...discontinuity is entirely possible.'"
-Poul Anderson, "Time Patrol" IN Anderson, Time Patrol (Riverdale, NY, December 2010), pp. 1-53 AT 2, p. 10.
This speaker replies to someone who, he says, insists on:
"'...only continuous functions.'" (ibid.)
He is talking about time travel but it sounds like the "Gypsy" account of FTL.
All of this is inside Poul Anderson's multiverse, however.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
This possible inconsistency might be another reason why Anderson became dissatisfied with the Psychotechnic stories.
IMO the best and most fully fleshed out of the Psychotechnic series was VIRGIN PLANET.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
I prefer "The Pirate" for its whole tone.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
I agree "The Pirate" is a very good "short" story. But we see so much more in VIRGIN PLANET, esp. the second and expanded version. I would also rate very highly "The Snows of Ganymede," despite a few slight awkwardnesses.
Ad astra! Sean
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