(urth) Heinlein's Universe and The Long Sun

[Gerry Quinn]

On 27/01/2020 15:52, Gem Caccetta wrote:
> Hi Gerry--I certainly would expect Wolfe to expand on (and make more 
> interesting!) the generation ship saga. I was seeing the similarities 
> as more of a possible homage to Heinlein.
> Oh, and another similarity I forgot to mention: in Heinlein's story 
> the descendants are called "Freight".
> -Gem

Indeed, that's a telling similarity.  It seems very much like the 
Heinlein was on his mind!

- Gerry Quinn

>
> On January 27,2020 Gerry Quinn wrote:
>
> Certainly a few commonalities there - two headed mutants aren't 
> exactly a dime a dozen!  But that said, there are a lot of generation 
> ship sagas with some similar features.  Wolfe's Long Sun is unusual 
> for avoiding the trope of complete forgetfulness. The Crew (and the 
> Gods/Mainframe) know what the deal is, though it looks like they are 
> paralysed without orders from Pas, or they don't know how to persuade 
> the Cargo.  And the Cargo - or the educated ones - actually know they 
> are on a generation ship too, though they have put it to the back of 
> their minds in favour of matters related to day to day life (I think 
> Wolfe suggested BotNS itself has a similar theme).  Kind of like how 
> everyone on this whorl ignores global warming insofar as it means any 
> change in lifestyle!
>
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