David "PiperFan" Johnson  11-27-2020
03:36 UT
|
~
From the Archives: "First Galactic Emperors"
As I mentioned
previously, November 2001 was busy time on the old PIPER-L mailing list.
In addition to his Paratime post recently shared here, John Anderson
also had another interesting contribution to the Terro-human Future
History.
---
Subject: First Galactic Emperors
From: John Anderson
Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2001 13:57:31 -0500
FIRST GALACTIC EMPERORS--PIPER'S HISTORICAL MODEL
1. Paul and Rodrik/Christian and Frederik
In 'Ministry of Disturbance', the current Galactic Emperor is 'Paul
XXII' (Em, pg. 132). His father is 'Rodrik XXI' (ibid, pg. 148), and
his son is also named Rodrik, which will someday make him Rodrik XXII.
The impression one gains is that Imperial names alternate between Paul
and Rodrik, probably to the near-exclusion of any other names. Since a
thousand years separate Paul II from Paul XXII (AE 1936-2936, timeline
in Empire), we can assume the interval is mostly filled with 19 more
Pauls and 19 or 20 Rodriks.
Beam seems to have based this on the Danish monarchy, which has
leapfrogged Christians and Frederiks for almost the last 500 years
(Kingdoms of Europe, pp. 430-431).
Piper apparently even modeled the names themselves, as Rodrik and
Frederik are obviously quite similar--just drop the 'F'--while Paul is
a 'Christian' name (from the Hebrew Saul). Since Paul XXII will be
followed by Rodrik XXII, Paul I most likely preceded Rodrik I. Paul
before Rodrik matches the Danish model, in which Christian I preceded
Frederik I.
However, Christian II also ruled before Frederik I, which resulted in
a misalignment of royal numbers; Frederik I was followed by Christian
III, Christian III by Frederik II, Frederik II by Christian IV, etc.
It is possible that Piper even modeled the misalignment for his early
Galactic rulers, though given his rational and orderly nature, I think
it more likely that he would correct this in his THFH.
But it will apparently soon be corrected in truth. The current Danish
monarch is Margrethe II, the daughter of Frederik IX (and granddaughter
of Christian X). Her son the crown prince is also named Frederik, and
will one day probably become Frederik X. Assuming Frederik X is followed
by Christian XI, the two Frederiks before and after Margrethe will balance
the earlier two Christians in a row, thus bringing the numerical order into
sequence. Christian XI will be followed by Frederik XI, then Christian XII
by Frederik XII, etc. But it doesn't seem possible for Piper to have known
this could happen, as the current Crown Prince was born in 1969; for all
Beam knew, the misalignment would continue indefinitely. Assuming the
numerical alignment does come about, Danish royal truth will follow Piper's
imperial fiction.
2. Steven/Sweyn (Svein)
Before the Imperial Pauls and Rodriks, there is mention of 'Stevan IV',
who 'proclaimed Odin the Imperial planet and Asgard the capital city'
(Em, pg. 136). This makes him the first Galactic Emperor (timeline in
Empire). Though the timeline misspells his name 'Steven', he probably is
a descendant of Steven, Count of Ravary in Space Viking, who presumably
becomes King Steven I of Marduk after his father, Simon I. Since Piper
apparently modeled Rodrik on Frederik, I speculate that Steven/Stevan
was based on the Danish 'Sweyn'.
The Danes had 3 kings named 'Sweyn' before Christian I; the name is
presumably a version of 'Sven', making it similar to Steven. Indeed,
since the Germanic 'w' and 'y' are interchangeable with 'v' and 'i', it
is alternately spelled 'Svein' (The Last Apocalypse, pg. 90). By adding
a 't' and flipping the 'e' and 'v', one can change Svein into 'Stevin'.
But if Paul I is modeled on Christian I, 'Stevan IV, the grandfather of
Paul I' (Em, pg. 136) should be paralleled by the Danish grandfather
of Christian I, which I cannot prove occurs. (Eric VII was two monarchs
before Christian I, but he wasn't Christian's grandfather.) However,
Sweyn III (ruled 1146-1157 AD) was the last of that name, so he could have
been projected by Piper to be followed by a 'Sweyn' (Stevan) IV. In fact,
if the first 3 Stevens are modeled on the 3 Sweyns, Stevan IV may be the
only one spelled differently. And if the monarch following Stevan IV is
not Stevan V (it is probably an Empress, see Marris/Margrethe below),
then neither Sweyn nor Steven/Stevan are used again in their respective
dynasties, as both lines then went into their endless cycle of Christians
and Frederiks/Pauls and Rodriks.
In Denmark's earlier history, however, its kings used a variety of names,
such as Canute, Eric, and Frode. Since 'Marduk [is] where the Empire had
begun' (Em, pg. 87), this is apparently also the case with the early history
of the 1st Galactic Empire. Separating the Battle of Marduk and the creation
of the Galactic Empire are 235 years, which could contain around 10-15 monarchs.
Four of these are therefore Stevens/Stevans; the rest may include more Simons,
Mikhyls, and perhaps several other names in the line of Mardukan monarchs.
3. Mikhyl/Dan Mykillati
Denmark has had no King Michaels, so Piper's use of 'Mikhyl' may have
been inspired by 'Dan Mykillati', King of the Danes from 190-270 AD
(KoE, pg. 430). It would seem too early for Mykillati to be a reference
to the Christian saint (or Dan to be from Daniel), as Denmark didn't
convert to Christianity until centuries later. Mykillati may be the
Danish version of Dan's royal agnomen, variously called 'the Magnificent',
'the Magnanimous', and 'the Splendid'. (I wonder if it may be related to
the English word 'mickle', that is, 'mighty' or 'great'.) Dan may have
been named after his mother 'Danysi' (his father was Olaf Vermundson),
and he ruled not only with great justice, but was the first to unite all
Denmark. One website alleges that 'Dan Mykillati' is an invented name to
explain the origin of the name 'Denmark', similar to the legendary Trojan
'Brutus' supposedly being the origin of 'Britain'.
The later freezing of royal names into only two choices seems rather
restrictive; Beam may have chosen the Danish model as a good device to
underline the stagnation of the First Galactic Empire. Incidentally, Queen
Elizabeth II and Prince Philip named their first son Charles to avoid this
very thing, 'for the simple reason that they...wanted to get away from the
endless succession of "Edwards" and "Georges" that had been the unexcepted
rule for English kings since William IV had died in 1837.' (HRH: The Man Who
Will Be King, pg. 24)
But a monarch upon ascending the throne can in fact choose whatever royal
name he or she wishes. The eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
was also named Albert; however, he 'chose to be known in his regal office as
King Edward VII, rather than Albert I, saying that he wished the name of his
father, who had been called Albert the Good, to stand alone.' (KoE, pg. 219)
4. Marris/Margrethe
The only Galactic Empress whose name we are given by Piper is Paul XXII's
wife 'Marris' (Em, pg. 148), though we can assume 'little Princess Olva'
(ibid, pg. 141) becomes the next one. Marris actually sounds similar enough
to Margrethe to have possibly been modeled on the current Danish Queen's
name. Drop a few letters of Margrethe, and you get 'Marret'. The Danes
have had two queens with this name; Margrethe I was a few monarchs before
Christian I, so the current Margrethe II has been the only interruption in
the steady stream of Christians and Frederiks on the Danish throne since
1513 AD.
If Piper modeled this as well, it would mean the 1st Empire has at least
two (and possibly several more, see 'Royal versus Imperial' below) ruling
Galactic Empresses among its suzerains. This is a defensible assumption in
any event, as I think many if not most monarchies have had at least one
female ruler. Margrethe II's father Frederik IX had no sons, and though his
daughter became Queen only in 1972, Piper knew she would ascend the throne,
since 'the [Danish] constitution was amended in 1953 to allow for female
succession to the throne in the absence of a male heir.' (KoE, pg. 426)
Thus, there may be a Marris I and Marris II who become Galactic Empresses
--and rule in their own right--during the First Empire. If so, Paul XXII's
wife was possibly named after them, or chose the name in honor of them when
she became Empress. The reign of Marris I would then be after Steven III but
before Paul I, since Margrethe I came after Sweyn III but before Christian I.
This could actually make the unnamed monarch between Paul I and his grandfather
Stevan IV the 1st ruling Galactic Empress. And Marris II would rule directly
after Rodrik IX, as the current Margrethe II is Frederik IX's daughter and
successor.
5. Olva/Olaf (Olav)
Princess Olva in 'Ministry of Disturbance' may also have been named
for a previous female sovereign. This depends on if Piper modeled Olva
on 'Olaf' (also spelled Olav or Oluf). Denmark has had several rulers
with this name, of which Olva could be the feminine form, similar to
Michael/Michelle, Daniel/ Daniella, etc. The first Olaf came before Dan
Mykillati, and was surnamed 'the Mild', which could explain why Piper
apparently changed this name to the form of (if you will forgive me) the
'gentler' sex. For some reason, he does not have the royal number 'I';
that is given to the Olaf who ruled between Sweyn II and III. Olaf I is
surnamed 'the Hungry', and in this regard, it is interesting that Princess
Olva is first mentioned as going with Paul XXII's son on a picnic! (Em, pg.
141) This could therefore be an example of subtle humor on Piper's part.
Since Olaf I comes before Sweyn III, Olva I is several monarchs before
Stevan IV, the 1st Galactic Emperor. Thus, she would be a Queen of Marduk.
Olaf II reigned between Sweyn III and Margrethe I, which puts 'Olva II' after
Steven III and before Marris I, probably making her another Mardukan Queen.
6. The Royal Lineup
All this tossing around of royal names and numbers may be a little confusing,
so here's a partial comparison of how the Danish monarchs and Mardukan/First
Galactic rulers might line up. I used only the 'matching' names from above,
so there are some unshown gaps in the lineages before Stevan IV. I also left
in the misalignment of royal numbers for Paul and Rodrik to follow the Danish
model, though as stated I believe Piper probably corrected this for his Galactic
rulers.
Danish Monarchs Mardukan/Galactic Monarchs
Olaf (Olav) the Mild Olva
Dan Mykillati Mikhyll
Sweyn (Svein) I Steven I (presumably Count of Ravary in SV)
Sweyn II Steven II
Oluf (Olaf) I the Hungry Olva I
Sweyn III Steven III
Olaf II Olva II
'Sweyn IV' (projected) Stevan IV (1st Galactic Emperor)
Margrethe I Marris I (1st ruling Galactic Empress)
Christian I Paul I
Christian II Paul II (Imperial Palace on Odin built)
Frederik I Rodrik I
Christian III Paul III
Frederik II Rodrik II
Christian IV Paul IV
Frederik III Rodrik III
Christian V Paul V
Frederik IV Rodrik IV
Christian VI Paul VI
Frederik V Rodrik V
Christian VII Paul VII
Frederik VI Rodrik VI (Imperial star-map completed)
Christian VIII Paul VIII
Frederik VII Rodrik VII
Christian IX Paul IX
Frederik VIII Rodrik VIII
Christian X Paul X
Frederik IX Rodrik IX
Margrethe II (current Queen) Marris II
Frederik X (probable next King) Rodrik X
Christian XI (projected) Paul XI
Frederik XI (projected) Rodrik XI
And then Paul and Rodrik XII, Paul and Rodrik XIII, and so forth.
From Marris II/Margrethe II on, no Galactic rulers are modeled on
Danish ones known to Piper, so there could even be several more
Empresses before Paul XXII.
7. Royal versus Imperial
These could actually be Olva I and Olva II. That's because Marris and
Olva are Imperial names; they don't seem to fit in with the Royal names
of Mardukan ladies in Space Viking. Prince Simon Bentrik's wife is
'Lucile' (SV, pg. 195), that of Crown Prince Edvard is 'Melanie' (ibid,
pg. 171), and their daughter is 'Myrna' (ibid, pg. 176). Adding in Trask's
future wife 'Valerie' (ibid, pg. 243), these are all very similar to
feminine names of our own time, while Marris and Olva seem different, more
'evolved'. Also, if these are names of Galactic Empresses that replace
Mardukan Queenly names, they match the male line, in which the Royal names
Mikhyll, Simon, and Steven are supplanted by the Imperial ones Paul and
Rodrik. (Stevan IV was the 1st Galactic Emperor, but the timeline in Empire
says he started out as King, probably of Marduk.) So, assuming Piper used
them, I think moving Olva I and II from among the Mardukan Queens to the
Galactic Empresses (possibly sometime after Marris II but before Rodrik XXI)
makes more sense.
8. Name Meanings
The meanings of some name combinations may provide further support for
the 'Danish hypothesis'. As stated, Frederik is the source for Rodrik.
Frederik means 'peace', and Rodrik is 'fame rule'. Piper projecting
Frederik to Rodrik is thus roughly 'peaceful renowned ruler'. This makes
sense in the peaceful (eventually stagnant) 1st Galactic Empire, which
has 'eight centuries, five at least, of historyless tranquillity' (Em, pg.
138), and moreover is ruled by the fame of its Emperors (and Empresses).
Speaking of empresses, one might think Margrethe and Marris are both related
to 'Mary'. But 'Mary' means 'wished-for child', while the other two are
different and complement each other nicely. Marris (Maris, Marissa) is
'of the sea', and Margrethe (Margaret) is 'a pearl'. Piper pairing Margrethe
with Marris is thus 'a pearl of the sea', which may be more of Beam's subtle
humor. Sweyn (Svein) means 'youth', and Steven is 'a crown', making Piper's
use of this combination 'a youthful crown' or 'a crowned youth'. LIST members
will not need to be reminded that Steven is 'the young Count of Ravary' (SV,
pg. 167) who later becomes a King. Olaf means 'ancestor', which becomes
'ancestress' if Olva is its feminine form. This could support 'little Princess
Olva' being named for an earlier Galactic Empress.
9. Marduk/Denmark
This may be a stretch, but even the planet name could have been modeled
on the national one. 'Marduk' is of course a Babylonian deity (a 'creator'
god, which may be why Piper has Marduk 'create' the First Galactic Empire),
but rearranged the name becomes 'Dumark'. It is similar to Denmark, though
certainly not a match. However, if we substitute the adjective form
'Mardukan', rearranged this becomes 'Danumark' or 'Danmarku'. And 'Danmark'
is the Danish name for their country; they are 'Danes' after all, not 'Denes'.
This nearly identical match could thus be more evidence in support of the
Danish model for Beam's Galactic Emperors and Empresses.
10. Problems
The problem with Olva being an Imperial rather than Royal name having been
noted above, there are several other difficulties in this identification.
'Mikhyll VIII' of Marduk has no matching 7 other Danish 'Mykillatis'--
there's just the one--and for Piper's later Pauls and Rodriks there are no
matching Danish Christians and Frederiks (since they haven't even been born
yet). John Carr suggests the Holy Roman Empire could supply the missing
Frederiks, and this could be the case. There are 12 (including Kings of
Prussia and Saxony), which added to the 10 Danish ones gives a total of 22--
and Paul XXII's son as stated will be Rodrik XXII. However, this still
leaves us with 12 missing 'Christians' to explain the later Imperial Pauls.
Also, Crown Prince Edvard and King Simon I don't seem based on Danish
names. For example, since 'Paul' seems based on 'Christian', we might expect
'Simon' to be modeled on 'Peter', but there is no such Danish monarch.
Indeed, if Count Steven of Ravary becomes King Steven I, modeled on Sweyn I,
King Simon I is modeled on 'Harold Bluetooth' and Mikhyl VIII on 'Gorm the Old'.
Mikhyll VIII actually is 'old' in Space Viking, but the non-matching names
(and probable misplacement of Olva) possibly means I'm being too literal. I
would therefore say that Piper seems to have used the Danish monarchy as a
'general' guide, and sometimes modeled specific names, but not necessarily in
all cases. This is likely in any event, as it is hard to imagine Beam modeling
such Danish royal names as Valdemar, Ragnar, and Halfdan (though on second
thought, given his creativity he probably could have figured a way). He may
have even used more than one monarchy to model names from, as suggested by
John Carr.
11. Conclusion
Aside from some complementary name meanings, an important thing to remember
is that the known order of masculine names is the same in both dynasties,
which supports my main idea--Piper having based his First Galactic Emperors
(also Empresses, and at least some of his Mardukan rulers) on the Danish
monarchy. Dan Mykillati comes before the 3 Sweyns, who come before the
almost exclusively alternating Christians and Frederiks, even as Mikhyll
comes before the 3 Stevens (and 1 Stevan), who come before the similarly-
alternating Pauls and Rodriks.
--John Anderson
-----
John's original message is available here:
https://web.archive.org/web/20080310095321...r-l&T=0&F=&S=&P=445
Cheers,
David
--
"Our
rulers are the barbarians among us. There isn't one of them . . . who
is devoted to civilization or anything else outside himself, and that's
the mark of the barbarian." - Otto Harkaman (H. Beam Piper), ~Space
Viking~
~
|
David "PiperFan" Johnson 11-11-2020
17:41 UT
|
~
From the Archives: "Paratime Proposals"
While John
Anderson's work in the Terro-human Future History has been a familiar
feature of our discussions, here is another post from the old PIPER-L
archives, from nineteen years ago this month, in which John shares
several ideas for potential new Paratime timelines.
---
Subject: Paratime Proposals
From: John Anderson
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2001 14:26:51 -0500
PARATIME PROPOSALS
At John Carr's suggestion earlier this year, I started coming up with
some proposals for Fourth Level Paratime sectors, subsectors, and belts.
I have no doubt some List members have devised their own, perhaps many
of which are along similar lines.
Alexandrian-Roman Sector: This is obviously one of Piper's own. I speculate
that it forms when Alexander accepts the peace deal Persia offered after the
Battle of Issus, but that the real Alexander rejected. Alternately, it could
form because Alexander does not die after returning from India, allowing him
a few more decades of conquest, this time in the Mediterranean area.
1. Indo-Alexandrian Subsector: Alexander's soldiers do not go on strike,
allowing the Macedonians to conquer India before returning home. However,
in India Alexander would learn about China, so there could also be an
2. Alexandrian-Oriental Subsector: One of Alexander's motivations seems to
have been finding the eastern end of the world. 'Alexander had his mind
fixed on the far eastern limit of the Oikoumene.' (Alexander of Macedon,
pg. 45) 'In this unknown area of the east Alexander believed that the
true gods might still exist.' (ibid, pg. 47) Following his fascination
could result in Alexander conquering China after India, and finding the
eastern shores of the Oikoumene. With such an extensive empire, he could
locate his capital in India, which is approximately equidistant from
Greece and northeast China. Alexandria-on-the-Ganges would become a great
metropolis, with Alex himself probably finding his way into the Hindu
pantheon (as well as Chinese and others). But he might not return to the
Mediterranean area and conquer Rome in this timeline, so it could rather
be a subset of the 'Macedonian Empire Sector' (Para, pg. 271)
However, even assuming Alexander does expire at about the 'historical'
time, his successors could still create Alexandrian-Roman, in several
subsectors such as:
3. Antigonid-Roman Subsector: Antigonus controlled Anatolia after
Alexander's death, and was the first of his generals attempting to
reunite the empire. In this Subsector, he is successful.
4. Seleuco-Roman Subsector: After Antigonus went down fighting, Persian-
based Seleucus made his grab at the brass ring, but was assassinated
when he crossed to Europe. In this timeline, he survives to become a
second Alexander.
5. Roman-Ptolemaic Subsector: Probably the last chance for an Alexandrian-
Roman Sector to form, as Egypt was the last of the Hellenistic states.
(Thus, the resulting sector will likely be more Roman than Alexandrian.)
The most interesting belts might be those of Cleopatra.
a) Caesar-Cleopatran Belt: Cleopatra was the last of the Ptolemies,
who schemed to recreate the empire of Alexander. In this Belt, she
persuades Caesar and his Roman legions to do just that. Bringing in
their son, who could have inherited the resulting 'Alexandrian-Roman
Empire', an alternate name is 'Cleopatra-Caesarion' Belt.
b) Cleopatra-Antonine Belt: She had a second chance with Marc Antony.
If Antony hadn't been a drunkard, or engaged his land-forces in a
sea battle with Octavian, he could have conquered the Roman Empire
for Cleopatra. Mark Antony succeeds in this belt.
c) Cleopatra-Augustan Belt: But even given Antony's failure, Cleopatra
could have had a final chance by working her charms on Octavian. He
apparently wasn't susceptible to them in our timeline, but the one
where he does succumb creates this Belt. Octavian ruled so well that
he was given the title 'Augustus', so this belt could be a
particularly prosperous one.
Moving farther back in history, taking the opposite view of the Graeco-
Persian conflict gives us the
Helleno-Persian Sector: Ancient Greece is conquered by Persia, and ruled
by satraps. A sort of reversal of Hellenistic civilization, this could
also be called 'Persianistic' (or Perso-Hellenic, for that matter). With
the infusion of Greek culture--and hoplites--Persia avoids the decline it
went through in our timeline. Below this sector could lie the
1. Perso-Mediterranean Subsector: The Carthaginians were rivals of the
Greeks in the western Mediterranean. Greek ships and Helleno-Persian
'Immortal Hoplites' could defeat Carthage by sea and land long before
Rome rose to do so, and even add Etruscan and the fledgling Roman
civilization to their own.
2. Persian-Transatlantic Subsector: Though controversial, there is evidence
the Carthaginians made it to the New World. Given the Helleno-Persian
conquest of Carthage, a combination of Greek and Punic sea-power under
Persian rule could lead to an earlier opening of the Americas to
sustained contact with the Old World, including settlement and commerce.
The Persians often tried to play the Greek city-states off against each
other, so in some of these subsectors, there could be belts where Persia
uses this tactic in its conquest of Greece, including
a) Darian-Spartan Belt: Sparta uses Persian support in Darius' time
against Athens.
b) Xerxes-Athenian Belt: Athens uses Persian support in Xerxes' time
against Sparta.
Returning closer to home, under the Europo-American Sector there could
also be groupings like
1. Britano-Columbian Subsector: Our own timeline is in Hispano-Columbian
Subsector, the opening of the New World by Columbus for Spain. But as
Piper states in 'Crossroads of Destiny', Columbus could have sailed for
Henry VII of England, (WoHBP, pg. 189). Alternately, this could also
be called 'Anglo-Columbian'.
2. Viking-Vinland Subsector: Before Hispano-Columbian forms in 1492,
Piper also mentions "suppose Leif Ericson had been able to plant a
permanent colony in America in the Eleventh Century" (ibid).
Alternate name: 'Vinland Subsector'.
Back up on the Sector level, next to Europo-American there could be the
Asio-American Sector: Instead of Europeans colonizing the New World,
there's no reason why the Asians couldn't have. And actually, they did,
in the American Indian migrations across the Bering land bridge, though
this ended when the Bering Strait was formed. Timelines where the
contact is reestablished by sea would include those in the
1. Sino-Oceanic Subsector: During the Ming Dynasty, an admiral named
Cheng Ho made some great voyages of discovery in the Pacific and
Indian Oceans, but China soon turned its back on exploration. In this
subsector, China kept going, which could have led to a collision with
European civilization, also expanding at this time (late 1400s). East
meets West in the New World and Africa; the resulting conflict pits
the greater wealth and population of the East against the greater
technology and innovative spirit of the West. Asian-dominated belts
of this subsector could include
a) Nippon-Pacific Belt: Sino-Oceanic could conquer Japan in most belts,
but in this one, Japan is able to hold them off. Assuming China does
return to semi-isolation, the torch of exploration and conquest would
pass to the Japanese. A natural maritime power, they might expand to
take in the entire Pacific basin.
b) Japan-Panmaritime: In this belt, Japan not only incorporates the
Pacific, but beats the British to World Ocean dominance, creating
an Asian empire on which 'the sun never sets'.
Meanwhile, back in Hispano-Columbian Subsector, there could be an
American-Hemispheric Belt: The US takes 'Manifest Destiny' literally--
becoming as territorially imperialist as any European power--and
eventually overspreads the entire American continent. Canada is taken
from Britain either in the Revolution or the War of 1812. The Mexican
War leads to the eventual annexation of that country, and Central America
falls fairly easily (apart from the British Honduras, which might entail
a third war with Britain). Instead of withdrawing after their various
interventions in the Caribbean, America annexes the area piecemeal, and
the US could use European preoccupation with WWI--assuming it still occurs
--as an opportunity to conquer South America. (If the US stops at Colombia,
the resulting belt would be 'American-Continental'.) But with America
becoming increasingly powerful, the European empires could combine
against it, possibly resulting in a rather different 'World War'.
However, all these proposals (and I believe all of Piper's known Fourth
Level timelines as well) presuppose that the Martians landed in the Eastern
Hemisphere. ('They left the mountains--were they the Caucasus? The Alps? The
Pamirs?--and spread outward, conquering as they went.' WoHBP, pg. 170) Or,
as the Paratimers call the Old World, the 'Major Land Mass' (Para, pg. 53).
Somewhere in Paratime there could be sectors based on a New World ('Minor
Land Mass'-ibid) landing of the stricken Martian colony ship. The older
civilizations here would develop in the major river systems of the Western
Hemisphere, and in a reverse of the American Indians, spread to the Old
World across the Bering land bridge in the other direction.
Of course, coming up with interesting-sounding names is the easy part
(assuming List members actually find these interesting). But as John Carr
states, 'The trick is to 'figure out' a brief history from then until now!
How would this alternate world develop...?' (email, dated March 22, 2001)
I leave it for another time--or another List member--to pick up that more
difficult and challenging task of creative extrapolation!
--John Anderson
PS: For those who haven't seen it, a good book containing various
historical turning points--or 'crossroads of destiny'--is 'What If?'
Edited by Robert Crowley, it is subtitled 'The World's Foremost Military
Historians Imagine What Might Have Been'. (Hardcover, G.P. Putnam's Sons,
1999; trade paperback, Berkley Books, 2000.)
-----
John's original message is available here:
https://web.archive.org/web/20080310095008...l&T=0&F=&S=&P=16938
November
2001 was an especially active month on the old PIPER-L and I encourage
you to revisit the many conversations that were underway then:
https://web.archive.org/web/20080306091620...1=ind0111&L=piper-l
Cheers,
David
--
"Why, you--You parapeeper!" -- Morvan Kara (H. Beam Piper), "Police Operation"
~
|
|
|
New Topic
My Topics
Views:
35310
(Unique:
9358
) / Subscribers:
27 | What's this?