Sunday 5 March 2023

The Wisdom Of Regelin

The War Of Two Worlds, V.

The Martian, Regelin, says:

"'And a race capable of mounting an interstellar invasion would be so far advanced technologically that it wouldn't need to conquer anybody.'" (p. 47)

As Alan Moore's alien character, Skizz, says, sufficiently advanced technology makes weapons redundant. If we already have everything that we need, then why fight?

Society is dynamic and organic. Changing one part changes others. Changing capabilities changes motivations. Removing causes of conflict removes conflict. Sf writers have to be able to think beyond present limitations. "There will be war" - for a while.

2 comments:

S.M. Stirling said...

By the standards of 1700, everyone in Russia and Ukraine has everything they need, including plenty of things -kings- couldn't have in 1700.

"Needs" are utterly subjective and infinite.



Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

I absolutely disagree with you and Regelin! I agree with Stirling that "needs" are both subjective and infinite. Person A might be happy and content, but has something Person B does not. And it only needs ONE to start a fight--or a war.

Ad astra! Sean