Recently I tried rereading some sf from years ago but did not read it to the end. I realize now that what I wanted then was stories about people in spaceships, not stories that were about something and that also happened to feature people in spaceships. Poul Anderson's first few Dominic Flandry stories are space opera but his later Flandry novels are about historical processes and alien evolution. The Merseians are transformed from cliched villains into a plausible species. The Technic History incorporates the lengthy Flandry series and, as we know, another entire series with additional stories set before, between and after, thus making it, in my opinion, the most complete future history series.
The film, The Odyssey, expresses concern about the decline of civilization, an issue that was not present in the Homeric epic but that is relevant now and was expressed by Poul Anderson.
6 comments:
The thing about Homer is that he was composing his poems just before Greece became civilized again. He reflects the moral universe of tribalism.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
And that's exactly what the authors of the great classics should do, reflecting their own ideas and beliefs in their works, reflecting the ideas/beliefs of their societies. They are under no obligation to pander to the whims, foibles, and fads of future generations.
Ad astra! Sean
They don't know about future generations!
Sean & Paul: you're both right...
I should note that attempts to predict the future usually end up looking ridiculous.
Kaor, Paul and Mr. Stirling!
Both: Of course! I was being droll about those "future generations."
Mr. Stirling: Unless writers are content to simply offer these speculations as stories set in alternate histories, as both you and Anderson have done.
Ad astra! Sean
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