Posted by Martin Read on July 05, 1999 at 03:57:08:
In Reply to: Trivia Question - Vance or not ? posted by Ian Richardson on July 04, 1999 at 22:14:59:
: I've read (years ago) a book where the main character arrives on a planet that has had technology but has lost the memory of it, and treats it as magic - electricity, combustion engines,etc - the character saves himself by revealing that he knows that the lightest petroleum distillate is the best for engines - I'm sure that only JV could have constructed this, but I can't find it - if you know where it's from, would you pls e-mail me off list - thanks)
Sounds a little Poul Anderson-esque also, but I can't place it. He has dealt with little problems such as how to transport heavy loads on a low-tech planet which bans wheels or circular/spherical objects for religious reasons - it's in the same area of thought as your problem.