Wednesday 7 November 2018

Symbols

The Nazis changed both the shape and the significance of the Jain/Hindu/Buddhist swastika.

In Poul Anderson's Harvest Of Stars, Security Police wear, and thus also misuse, "...the infinity symbol." (25, p. 240)

Lunarian "'...ancillaries of the Lord Rinndalir...'" (26, p. 243) each wear:

"...a medallion, a black circle ringed by irregular pearliness, the Eclipse of power." (ibid.)

And that is an appropriate symbol!

After colds last week and exertion yesterday, we are taking it easy today. I am on the computer and Poirot, taking a rest cure, is on TV. Sheila is sneezing and not even knitting. (She has just started knitting.)


1 comment:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

I'm reminded of how Rudyard Kipling was once fond of the Swastika symbol. Older editions of his works have that symbol stamped or printed on or inside them. But, after the Nazis came to power in Germany, a disgusted Kipling instructed his publishers to discontinue use of the Swastika.

Anderson's Terran Empire also had symbols. One, for the Empire as a whole, was a stylized sunburst. And different branches of the Imperial Navy had symbols appropriate for them. For Dominic Flandry, as an officer of the Imperial Naval Intelligence Corps, that was a star with an eye, an insigne worn by Flandry on his uniforms (Chapter II of THE REBEL WORLDS).

I hope Mrs. Shackley soon feels better!

Sean