tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post1744172467137382886..comments2024-03-28T07:57:49.338+00:00Comments on Poul Anderson Appreciation: War, Wells And AndersonKetlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588156788583883454noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-47329690919504323422013-08-02T07:47:12.569+01:002013-08-02T07:47:12.569+01:00 Hi, Nicholas!
Thanks for your note. I would arg... Hi, Nicholas!<br /><br /> Thanks for your note. I would argue that the reason the USA and UA were content to fight mostly off Earth was because these powers were too STRONG to make it safe trying to settle their quarrels on Earth. Any such effort would all too likely end up with both nations being destroyed. So their space navies will maneuver and clash off Earth. No doubt, both hope they would end up becoming so strong they could dictate terms to the other power.<br /><br /> All this reminds me of the former Cold War between the USA and her allies vis a vis the late, unlamented USSR and her East Bloc satellites. Esp. after the death of Stalin when his more cautious successors strove to undermine the US and the West by means short of open war and invasion. Fortunately, the US managed to hold the line well enough to outlast the USSR.<br /><br /> SeanSean M. Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13973738112230622557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-15755463014453303242013-08-02T04:26:06.099+01:002013-08-02T04:26:06.099+01:00Hi, Sean!
From what we see of Unasian society, an...Hi, Sean!<br /><br />From what we see of Unasian society, and what is implied, they're not a free society, and not likely to be receptive to that kind of criticism, true or not. And no doubt the U.S.A. and U.A. had actual and real points of disagreement, but why exactly did these result in the kind of war they were fighting, where neither stood to conquer or wipe out the other, and there didn't seem to be anything to gain economically, nor any captive nations to liberate on Mars or the asteroids? Human sacrifice seems to fit.<br /><br />Regards, NicholasAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-27375485846587958582013-08-01T20:00:35.738+01:002013-08-01T20:00:35.738+01:00Yes, I thought his theory might explain some of th...Yes, I thought his theory might explain some of the social psychology involved but not the whole war!Paul Shackleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04180596532266581425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-59137965328250302332013-08-01T19:42:59.427+01:002013-08-01T19:42:59.427+01:00 Hi, Paul!
Then I can only conclude Rostock did ... Hi, Paul!<br /><br /> Then I can only conclude Rostock did not inform his superiors of his findings because he knew they would not believe them. Which, all by itself, would seem to lessen the likelihood of them being true. That is the conflict between United Asia and the USA was not simply a disguished form of human sacrifice, there were actual and real points of disagreement between USA the and UA.<br /><br /> SeanSean M. Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13973738112230622557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-66958124815728901422013-08-01T19:35:10.886+01:002013-08-01T19:35:10.886+01:00Sean,
Nor do I! But I thought that the two governm...Sean,<br />Nor do I! But I thought that the two governments in "Kings Who Die" had a better chance. Rostock should have submitted his findings to his government, not schemed as he tried to.<br />Paul. Paul Shackleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04180596532266581425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-60372882735997218072013-08-01T19:17:13.739+01:002013-08-01T19:17:13.739+01:00Hi, Paul!
While what you suggest is the ideal, i... Hi, Paul!<br /><br /> While what you suggest is the ideal, it won't happen unless the great powers agree there are no crucial conflicts of belief and real politik dividing them. IOW, a situation kinda like what happened in Europe from the Congress of Vienna in 1814-15 to the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand in 1914. But I see no end, at present, to the age of chaos we've been living in since 1914. <br /><br /> SeanSean M. Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13973738112230622557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-60495650901429902882013-08-01T17:23:54.393+01:002013-08-01T17:23:54.393+01:00Sean,
I would hope, though, that in the scenario o...Sean,<br />I would hope, though, that in the scenario of "Kings Who Die", both the US and the Unasian governments would have enough sane people that could agree to coexisting on Earth and stopping the slaughter in space.<br />Paul.Paul Shackleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04180596532266581425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-65796808796111187612013-08-01T17:05:34.023+01:002013-08-01T17:05:34.023+01:00Hi, Paul!
I forgot to add that besides H.G. Well... Hi, Paul!<br /><br /> I forgot to add that besides H.G. Wells, Jules Verne was also one of the fathers of modern SF. A few examples of Verne's SF being TWENTY THOUSAND LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA, JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH, and FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON.<br /><br /> SeanSean M. Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13973738112230622557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-33659956378324868512013-08-01T16:38:07.301+01:002013-08-01T16:38:07.301+01:00 Hi, Paul!
Here, I again agree with Anderson an... Hi, Paul! <br /><br /> Here, I again agree with Anderson and disagree with you. War happens because conflicting parties are unable or unwilling to compromise their disagreements. Or because they believe doing so would undermine them or violate their very reason for existing.<br /><br /> I need only point out how the mere existence of Christianity and the Western civilization which sprang from it is considered a deathly threat to Islam. The beliefs, ideals, and values of Christianity/the West are simply not compatible with those of Islam. That is why we are seeing resurgent Jihadism propagated by the Muslim Brotherhood and other Muslim groups within Islam.<br /><br /> SeanSean M. Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13973738112230622557noreply@blogger.com