When does the story take place.
At an important time in their history.
Are the Atrians more advanced than us?
Perhaps 100 years or so.
That's not a lot?
No; but it took them over two thousand years to get from here (a time like ours) to there (100 years beyond).
Why'd it take 2,000 years?
They failed to navigate an important turning point and, as a consequence, took a detour through a nasty dark ages they call The Time of Disorder.
What kind of turning point?
The same one that confronts us. See the section Perspectives when you get a chance.
Foreboding.
Exactly. The important question is: how long will it take us to get from "here" to "there"?
