Board Thread:The Panopticon/@comment-26975268-20130407222910/@comment-188432-20130415135429

Guys, it's slightly metaphorical, not "semantic gymnastics". English ordinarily contains expressions like "a Muslim nation", "the Jewish state", "countries that worship Allah vs. countries that believe in Jesus". I think it can bear "seven worlds, orbiting one star, all sharing the belief that …"

Besides, "seven worlds orbiting one star" is the crucial bit, and it's not at all metaphorical.

What are the Sun-singers of Akhet, Doctor? "Seven worlds orbiting one star." In that full context, world does mean planet, and then he goes back to put some cultural meat on the bones, "all sharing the belief that …"