He also subverts typical space opera clichés (such as the heroic soldier influencing battles through individual acts) and "demonstrates how absurd many of the old clichés look to someone who had seen real combat duty".[5]
In just a single novel, Flandry's individual acts defeat the McCormac Rebellion, allow the rebels to escape and arrange the assassination of the corrupt Governor who had deliberately provoked the Rebellion. To paraphrase Winston Churchill, never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to just one man.
2 comments:
It depends on the period and the war. Pizarro started out as a swineherder in Extramadur, crossed half the world and conquered a great empire with a few hundred men.
Kaor, Paul and Mr. Stirling!
Paul: While the caveats raised by Haldeman are valid, they should not be taken too far. Individuals do matter and they can be decisive changers of history. Besides the example Stirling cited, your mention of CHURCHILL bears out my point as well. In many ways he was as bold and adventurous as Flandry. Simply recall his adventures as a young man! And Churchill had perseverance as well, repeatedly coming back from setbacks in his political career that would have wrecked those of many other politicians.
Without Churchill's nagging and pushing, the UK would have been far less prepared for war with Nazi Germany than she otherwise would have been in 1939. And if Churchill had not become PM in 1940, almost any other PM would probably have made a deal with Hitler and allowed Germany to become dominant on the Continent. With catastrophic results.
Mr. Stirling: I agree! Individuals can and do matter. There are men whose acts have CHANGED the world.
Ad astra! Sean
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