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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 26/01/2020 19:44, Gem Caccetta
wrote:<br>
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<div>I recently came across a three volume set of short stories
and novellas called the <i>Science Fiction Hall of Fame</i>,
edited by Ben Bova in 1975. One of the novellas titled <i>Universe</i>,
by Robert Heinlein, (written in 1941) takes place on the
“Ship”—a generation ship sent off long ago to inhabit another
planet, but now drifting because none of the descendants
remember the nature or purpose of the ship. What they do
remember has degenerated into religious superstition. There is
a “Jordan’s Plan” for the ship. There is a powerful two-headed
mutant, Joe-Jim, a highly intelligent leader of a mutant gang
who has learned of the Ship’s true nature. There is a young,
curious man Hugh, captured by Joe-Jim, who is taken to the
main control room and shown the stars. Hugh enlists others to
take control of the ship and complete Jordan’s Plan….sound
familiar?</div>
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<p>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!</p>
<p>- Gerry Quinn</p>
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