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ftl drive - Short story of a race who discovered primitive but subtle interstellar travel



Many years (20+?) ago in Analog SF magazine I read a short story where a culture discovered interstellar travel shortly after the start of their iron age. They could construct air-tight ships and travel essentially as far as their oxygen supply lasted. Before they met us, the most technologically advanced culture they came across had discovered balloon flight. Needless to say they thought our jets were merely improved balloons.



Answer



Pretty sure that's The Road Not Taken by Harry Turtledove.


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