Are human beings ready to swarm out into the universe? Will we ever be? This question is the crux of Poul Anderson's
Planet Of No Return,
The Avatar and
The Fleet Of The Stars. Does such a recurrent theme become "same-y" (as some people I have known have used that word)? In many works by Anderson, human beings do swarm out and, by and large, continue to conduct themselves as they have been accustomed to do on Earth. In two short dystopias, they become extinct. In
Genesis, they become extinct but are re-created by a post-organic intelligence. That is a vast body of reflection on mankind and his place in the universe.
(I am just back from Manchester, tired and maybe not about to post much this evening. Think about Anderson's questions and answers.)
6 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
No, the human race will never be "ready" to swarm out into the universe because men and women will often have conflicting ends, desires, goals, etc. Nor do I really care about us being "ready"--if the opportunity to swarm out comes that's exactly what I hope happens.
People who talk glibly that mankind should stay on this rock till all our problems are solved and everybody are gooey gooey nice are either lying or being hopelessly naive. We are always going to have problems, and we are all imperfect and prone to conflicts, violent or not. That should not stop us from leaving Earth!
I believe Anderson would agree with all of what I wrote above.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
I was pointing out that three widely spaced novels address this question, not suggesting a particular answer to it.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
I know, but there were powerful factions/entities in QUESTION AND ANSWER, THE AVATAR, and THE FLEET OF STARS hostile to mankind leaving Earth in a decisively major way. Meaning my original comments, esp. the second paragraph, are applicable.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
Oh, yes, applicable within the narratives.
Paul.
-Some- people will always be ready to 'swarm out' if they get the chance. The adventurous, the ambitious-but-frustrated, and people with a strong reason to move as far as they can... all those types.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling! (I assume)
Absolutely, what you said how there will be certain kinds of people willing to "swarm out" if the chance comes. I can easily see Christians fleeing Muslim persecution and tyranny doing that, if given that chance.
And, of course, the ambitious/frustrated and adventurous.
Ad astra! Sean
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