The Ties That Bind

"The Ties That Bind" by Walter M. Miller is a science fiction story that takes place long after humans left Earth for space exploration. It looks at ideas like what we remember as a culture, how we balance nature and civilization, and what happens when humans return to a recovered Earth. A space fleet, under the leadership of Baron Ernstli ven Klaeden, comes back to Earth, but they encounter people who have lived peacefully for twenty thousand years without any wars. The arrival of the space travelers, who have an imperialist-like mission, begins to stir up old memories of fighting. Despite the initial welcome, the growing tension and misunderstandings cause awful events. The story carefully examines the differences between the two conflicting societies and how the past shapes the present.