Saturday, 31 October 2026

Diversity And Hallowe'en

We anticipate the diversity of Poul Anderson's Terran Empire - although I do not really expect anything like that interstellar civilization to come to pass. (Are FTL and multiple extraterrestrials going to happen?) My recent and current inter-faith dialogues comprise those with:

a woman Methodist minister last weekend;

a Muslim layman today;

Soto Zen Buddhist monks tomorrow;

Fortuna-devotee, Andrea above the Old Pier Bookshop, this Tuesday.

We are well prepared for Hallowe'en visitors. A lit pumpkin head outside the front door invites them to call. Each will receive a packet of crisps, a bar of chocolate and a glow-stick/bracelet. Anything not handed out will be kept for Christmas. Three young Asian boys have just called. I want to write one more post after this one, then get back to rereading Ian Fleming who is an extremely underrated good writer. He needs a new series of films based exactly on what he wrote - just as Poul Anderson needs a first-time-ever series of films based on exactly what he wrote. 

Graphic adaptations of Time Patrol and "Flight to Forever" could be visually spectacular.

Another three at the door. I also have a journal of current political analysis to read. Let me try to wind up this post now.

3 comments:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

I will concede many intelligent races existing in the galaxy a la STARFAERERS to be more likely than FTL also existing.

I like to read a ghost story or two for Halloween, maybe one of the "uncanny" stories of Russell Kirk. Readers might look up Kirk collections such as THE PRINCESS OF ALL LANDS or WATCHERS AT THE STRAIT GATE.

Ad astra! Sean

paulshackley2017@gmail.com said...

Sean,

Maybe "Sargasso of Lost Starships" comes near?

Paul.

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

I was wondering if Anderson wrote anything that could be called a ghost story--meaning "Sargasso" might be the closest he came to doing that. Another Anderson story I should reread.

Ad astra! Sean