burton (07/28/82)
Based on recommendations by many people on the net, I have started reading Cordwainer Smith's Instrumentality stories. In the front of 'The Instrumentality of Mankind' (Ballantine books, 1979 I believe), there is a time line for the Instrumentality series. It places "Mark Elf" and "Queen of the Afternoon" at around 3000 AD; yet in Mark Elf, the story makes it clear (in many references) that it is taking place about 16 thousand years after WW II. Can anyone explain this apparent mistake by J. J. Pierce (who created the time line for that edition)? I could understand it only if Pierce was trying to correct a mistake or inconsistency on Smith's part, but since I have not yet read all of the stories, I can't be sure of this. Doug Burton ihps3!inuxc!burton