G. C. Edmondson

“ What would you do without a technology to build spaceships?"
"Many stars have gone nova during our history. Usually the barbarians came in time. When they didn't—"
"You mean you don't really care?"
"All barbarians ask that sooner or later," Joe smiled. "Sometimes toward the end they even accuse us of destroying them. We don't. Every technology bears the seeds of its own destruction. The stars are older than the machinery that explores them."
"You used technology to get from one system to another." ”

“ When machines fail, their people die. We have no machines."
"What would you do if this sun were to nova?"
"We can serve you. We are not unintelligent."
"Willing to work your way around the galaxy, eh? But what if we refused to take you?"
"The race would go on. Kung Su tells me there is no life on planets of this system, but there are other systems."
"You're whistling in the dark," Griffin scoffed. "How do you know if any of the Rational People survive?"
"How far back does your history go?" Joe inquired.
"It's hard to say exactly," Griffin replied. ”

“ Our day is three hundred heartbeats longer than yours."
Joe nodded his thanks. "More water?"
Griffin declined, suppressing a shudder.
"Five million years ago we were limited to one planet," Joe began. "The court astronomer had a vision of our planet in flames. I imagine you'd say our sun was about to nova. The empress was disturbed and ordered a convocation of seers. One fasted overlong and saw an answer. As the dying seer predicted the Son of Heaven came with fire-breathing dragons. The fairest of maidens and the strongest of our young men were taken to serve his warriors. ”