When reading Gardner's account of British and Russian intelligence services, Poul Anderson readers might remember that Time Patrol agents are present on both sides but well disguised. Also, but in another fictional timeline, some features of the Cold War are reproduced in the conflict between Terra and Merseia.
In Mirkheim, XIX, Sandra Tamarin, arriving on Earth after a thirty plus years absence, has to readjust to "...the hugeness of megalopolitan integrates..." (p. 252) She sees "...some of the remaining natural marvels..." (ibid.) including the Grand Canyon and Lake Baikal.
David Falkayn, who has returned from Hermes with Sandra, describes Earth in terms that we recognize. Politicians think that they lead but the real decision-makers are owners, managers, bureaucrats and union chiefs. This last group seems to have embedded itself more effectively inside the power structure than in our period.
10 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
The difficulties you listed facing spies in Anderson's Technic stories can sometimes be coped with. E.g., think of the professional double Eric Tamarin met. Or really really deep cover hostile agents slowly working their way up the ranks of the State they were assigned to infiltrate. Which is what Olaf Magnusson did.
We are in another Cold War--the US has to somehow cope with the aggressive ambitions and hostility of mainland China.
Union bosses in the US are worse than the ones in MIRKHEIM. Here, they are openly aggressive, bullying, and insolent!
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
Does China have to cope with US ambitions?
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
I could WISH the US did have such ambitions! Then China, Russia, Iran, N Korea might be less dangerous.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
But does the US not seek to influence the rest of the world economically, politically and militarily?
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
That has been the case since at least 1945. And since SOMEBODY, inevitably, is going to be doing that influencing, I would far rather that was the US, rather than a regime as evil as that of the USSR. Or Maoist China today!
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
You can always claim that your side isn't as bad as the others but that's not saying much and international rivalry threatens us all.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
And that kind of rivalry springs from the ineradicable urges, drives, aspirations of human beings. Given that, I would far rather Earth was unified by halfway decent conquerors, and not by a regime as bad as the one now misruling China.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
Whether the US is halfway decent is a highly controversial proposition. Would US world conquest be a good idea?
I agree that we have not changed genetically from living in caves to using computers. Nevertheless, our genetic inheritance is such that we are extremely flexible and adaptable. No urges are ineradicable. Some people opt to emphasize aggression because it suits the kind of society that they are living in. Society generates ideology: ideas that justify/rationalize/sanctify etc particular social relationships. Basic urges include cooperation and helping others. These are not exclusive or ineradicable but they are basic.
Paul.
"Would US world conquest be a good idea?"
Certainly Poul seemed to think the answer would be "no", judging by some of his novels eg: "Shield".
Kaor, Paul and Jim!
Both: I was not thinking of a conquest of the world by the US. I had more in mind how an alliance led by America (think of the speculations seen about the "Anglosphere") might lead to de facto unification under some kind of federation a la the Solar Commonwealth seen in Anderson's Technic stories. I'll quote from the fictional introduction PA wrote for "The Problem of Pain," from THE EARTH BOOK OF STORMGATE: "To curb these inordinate prerogatives of a few [powers], whose quarrels and mismanagement threatened to lay waste their native planet, the Commonwealth was finally established, as a nation of nations. This did not happen quickly, easily, or rationally. The story of it is long and terrible. Nevertheless, it happened: and, for a time, the Commonwealth was on the whole a benign influence."
If we are lucky, something like that will happen in the future; and, maybe, not be too bad. BUT Anderson does not expect such a federation to arise "quickly, easily, or rationally." And I agree with him!
Ad astra! Sean
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