Poul Anderson | Catawrayannis Base

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World of the Maurai

"In short, the Sky People are a scientific race — the only one besides ourselves which we Maurai have yet discovered. And that makes them too precious to lose."
— Ruori Rangi Lohannaso (Poul Anderson) "The Sky People"

The World of the Maurai is a post-apocalyptic setting which begins several centuries after an unspecificed collapse of civilization on Earth. Most of the knowledge — and some of the artifacts — of pre-collapse civilization remain in this new world but industrial capabilities are limited because much of the planet's natural resources have been depleted. The Maurai, a sea-faring nation based in the islands of the Pacific, are perhaps the most advanced society in the world and use their influence — and when necessary, their military power — to enforce moderate, sustainable development in other nations across the planet.

(Anderson conceived of the Maurai setting after reading The Challenge of Man's Future (1954) by Harrison Brown. It culminates in the novel Orion Shall Rise which incorporates ideas inspired by the U.S. Project Orion of the 1950's.)

Bibliography

Image - The Sky People cover illustration

Cover illustration (for "The Sky People") by Ed Emshwiller
(Image served by the Luminist League)y)

Anderson's first Mauri story was "The Sky People" published in the March 1959 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. Subsequent Maurai stories were published in 1962 and 1973. A final Maurai novel, Orion Shall Rise, was published in 1983. This section contains a comprehensive list of Anderson's Maurai stories and novels, including republishings and reprintings.

Gallery

Image - Orion Shall Rise dust jacket illustration

Dust jacket illustration by Darrell K. Sweet
(Image originally served by L. W. Currey)

Cover and dust jacket llustrations from Maurai stories and novels, including republishings and reprintings, and other Maurai-related artwork.

Chronology

Image - Maurai & Kith cover illustration

Cover illustration (for "The Sky People") by Thomas Kidd
(Image served by Black Gate)

A chronological complilation of major Maurai future historical events.

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