Not familiar with that particular story, but doesn't it just reflect the popular mid-late twentieth century scifi conceit that interstellar travel would start a

Not familiar with that particular story, but doesn't it just reflect the popular mid-late twentieth century scifi conceit that interstellar travel would start at the end of the twentieth century and be the most important thing ever? In which case the 1950/90 distinction probably would be a consideration for someone with a half decent knowledge of history, a bit like someone today saying "imagine telling someone in 1450 or even 1492 what the Americas would be like today..." Minus points for thinking the literature would stand the test of time though :)