Friday, 26 June 2026

On Aeneas

The Day Of Their Return, 3.

Some ironies:

While High Commissioner Desai is interviewing Aycharaych, he must pause to check the relevant data received from Sector HQ in Catawrayannis on Llynathawr. Desai politely asks Aycharaych whether he minds waiting for a few minutes. Of course not! As we later realize, this short wait gives the telepathic spy an even longer opportunity to scan the High Commissioner's surface thoughts. Even more so when Desai then invites Aycharaych to an early lunch and an extended conversation... The Chereionite's personal magnetism and charm are insidious. However, longer term, Desai remains on his guard and makes enquiries. But, by that time, Aycharaych, agent of Merseia, has vanished into the Aenean wilderness.

Nova Roma at night:

in Desai's office, blackness relieved only by glowboards and shifting Creusan moonlight;

outside and above, stars, moons, Milky Way and three planets;

elven city;

radiant shadowy houses;

dark dappled streets;

mercury river and canal;

afar, a ghostly desert dust storm;

cutting keening wind.

Is Aeneas the most detailed colony planet in the Technic History?

Its inhabitants:

University scientists, scholars, students and support staff
Landfolk squires, yeomen and tenants
Townfolk guilds and corporations
Web manufacturers, merchants and managers
tinerans
Riverfolk
Orcans 
Highlanders

However, these are all human. Dennitza has zmayi/ychani (Merseians by species, not by loyalty) represented in a third House of Parliament whereas Avalon has Ythrians represented by choths existing alongside the Parliament of Man.

What a complicated universe.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Kaor, Paul!

Exactly, Desai always remained watchful and wary, despite not knowing the full extent of Aycharaych's abilities.

I absolutely expect a real interstellar civilization/civilizations, with very varied political forms, to be as complex as we see them in the Technic stories. It's What Xenosophonts (IWED) do.

Ad astra! Sean

S.M. Stirling said...

I would have thought the Terran Empire would have a WARNING signal on all computers about A.

Anonymous said...

Kaor, Mr. Stirling!

I agree, except the Empire did not YET know about Aycharaych and Chereion, except for a few vague hints. I discussed this more fully in my "Finding an Unexpected Contradiction" article.

And we do see mention of "Aycharaych alarms" in HUNTERS OF THE SKY CAVE.

Ad astra! Sean