"Some people didn't take to being civilized; their DNA wasn't right for it." (p. 185)
Poul Anderson's first, Psychotechnic, future history referred to:
"...the revolt of a primitive against the unnatural state called civilization and freedom."
-see here.
- whereas, in Anderson's Technic History, Nicholas van Rijn claims that he and his friends are wild animals. See here.
For more on this issue, see this blog research result. (Scroll down.)
OK. An issue that spans three future histories and The Winter Of The World and a good place to end for tonight, maybe, although you never know. I have not seen any news yet today. What is happening in the real world that generates all the fictional worlds? Any new madnesses or Messiahships?
(In one of my jobs that involved interviewing clients, "DNA" meant "Did Not Attend." Maybe fictional characters are those who do not attend reality?)
2 comments:
Civilization is, in a basic sense, unnatural -- we're adapted by evolution for hunter-gatherer levels of society. That doesn't mean we can't manage civilization, it just means that it's a continuous struggle.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
Exactly, and too many don't want to abide by the norms, rules, and laws all civilizations need if they are going to function fairly well. Which is one reason why we have so much crime and violence, and hence the need for the State to control it.
Ad astra! Sean
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