tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post2999510508100290291..comments2024-03-29T14:49:20.560+00:00Comments on Poul Anderson Appreciation: Motivations IIKetlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588156788583883454noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-14742233954665598822016-10-09T22:12:50.461+01:002016-10-09T22:12:50.461+01:00Kaor, Paul!
True, the idea of Old Nick being an ...Kaor, Paul! <br /><br />True, the idea of Old Nick being an austere and celibate monk and contemplative is rather mind boggling! But the conceit amused me!<br /><br />Yes, I saw how you included Cairncross in your first "Motivations" piece.<br /><br />SeanSean M. Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13973738112230622557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-29258677863307215092016-10-09T21:55:58.205+01:002016-10-09T21:55:58.205+01:00Sean,
I doubt it!
Cairncross is there now. I kept ...Sean,<br />I doubt it!<br />Cairncross is there now. I kept adding to the list.<br />Paul.Paul Shackleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04180596532266581425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-79140248000562015232016-10-09T21:53:00.855+01:002016-10-09T21:53:00.855+01:00Kaor, Paul!
You already know of one reason why I ...Kaor, Paul!<br /><br />You already know of one reason why I came to prefer SF over Westerns. The former is more outward looking and future oriented. The latter too nostalgic and past oriented.<br /><br />I'm puzzled by this line of yours, referring to "Motivations": "one Imperial Founder and four pretenders." Manuel Argos was the Imperial Founder but I only saw three Pretenders: Hans Molitor, Hugh McCormac, and Olaf Magnusson. I think you meant to include Edwin Cairncross among the pretenders.<br /><br />And of these four pretenders Hans Molitor was by far the best and only successful usurper. Because old Hans was a reluctant usurper who only seized the throne after the legitimate order of succession had irretrievably collapsed.<br /><br />And, yes, both the Founder and Hans Molitor were motivated by the urgent need to restore order. We can't advance or prosper if our society, any society, is in a state or anarchy or collapse.<br /><br />I don't think Fr. Axor HAD to seek evidence of a Universal Incarnation of Christ on other worlds. I could argue that simply by accepting converts to Christianity by beings of non human races the Church was declaring that the single Incarnation of Christ on Terra was of universal scope and efficacy (interested readers might like to look up my article "God And Alien In Anderson's Technic Civilization").<br /><br />I agree, Fr. Axor chose to express his faith by becoming a priest while Nicholas van Rijn remained a layman. Or, did Old Nick himself become a monk in his extreme old age? (Smiles)<br /><br />SeanSean M. Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13973738112230622557noreply@blogger.com