Alga writes:
-------------------------------
desk? That's why I say colonists rather than explorers, who presumably have been trained in many skills. Or, if that won't wash, say that nearly everyone was killed except for a few folks as dumb as me. And that we then inbred and got kind of spacy, as I would imagine people do get under such circumstances (cf Australia, if you like--hi Damien!). This, it seems to me, would create at least a rope bridge between you and Borski. ...
Exactly. They devolved because of lack of ability to pass on acquired knowledge. Also (this is 1972), they're a bit New Agey to start with.
-------------------------------
With respect to the idea that the abos are "spacey" or "New Agey",
I think the addictive, (perhaps hallucinogenic?) drug that the shadow children are shown being addicted to in "A Story" would provide this.
-Neal Smith