The Second Apocalypse

i mention it in more detail in my I.5 almanac posting--but TTT glossary on the NoH indictaes that

(III at 469).

the inference is that the axis around which the celestial sphere spins (i.e., matching the perceived or actual revolution of the heavens around the earth) must pass from the north pole of that sphere (i.e., sphere as perceived from the center, i.e., on the planet, looking heavenward) through the center of the sphere to the south pole. the pole points have no apparent radial velocity, aye, and the greatest radial velocity is on the equator? the center of the sphere must be on the axis.

the planet is therefore the center of the universe. the inchoroi have accordingly chosen well.

I'm not getting that - the terms might just be going over my head? Why does that make the planet (or the center of the planet) the center of the universe, rather than the north star?

it makes sense that the planet is the center of the universe if that's what the ancient world believed. This is about making a fantasy world that recreates the reality of ancient beliefs.

Yeah, it just A: grates against a certain aesthetic because you can't actually visit the center of the universe, as its under alot of rock and B: in flat earth days, the center of the universe would be visitable.

Yeah, I grant the north star being the center of the universe would jar the traditional idea. But for myself, if it's the center, and it's all glowy and mysterious, it's super more interesting to visit than some rocks. Unless SA becomes journey to the center of the earth at some point - which is kinda cool.

flat earth...that's damned interesting. we know that there're horizons in the setting, which implies a non-flat earth. can we make RSB's world flat? tolkien made his world flat, at least in the early drafts, even though aragorn later could go to places "where the stars are strange." what's north of agongorea, south of kutnarmu? dunsany's edge of the world?

I wasn't really thinking a flat earth would apply (you think the Inchies would certainly spot THAT particular 'planet' - or maybe that's why they crashed - the gravity is wacked?). BUT wouldn't it tie into the idea of 'Limits with One Side' in quite a funny way?

I do at times think that RSB has read all of Pratchett, probably repeatedly.

"TELL ME, WHAT DO YOU SEE?"

"A giant turtle..."

But the idea of stars and planets presented by the Inchoroi very much clashes with most ancient beliefs of the real world. We aren't talking holes in the celestial spheres, according to them.

I don't think its position indicates that Earwa is the center of the universe at all. Just that that star is positioned directly at this world's north pole. It could (and assuming it is in fact a star) and probably does have some radial velocity in respect to Earwa, but it can take a long time for a star to appreciably move in a sky. Although it is definitely an uncommonly bright or very close star.

The fact that the original Nonman name refers to it as "Newborn" seems like it's almost certainly relevant, which is what gives me pause in just assuming it's a normal star.

But remember, the Nonmen are so old. Maybe it started recently in their memory.