The enemies of Stirling's Second British Empire are particularly evil: a Russian Devil-worshiper mobilizes Hindu Thugs, Muslim assassins and Nipponese agents! - even more villainous than Ian Fleming's, Kevin McClory's and Jack Whittingham's SPECTRE which unites former members of the Gestapo, SMERSH, the Mafia etc.
Another group of potential "enemies" has not yet appeared in Stirling's text (I have read as far as p. 210): campaigners for minority rights or opponents of particular injustices within the Empire. Some of these would be thoroughly respectable registered charities or Parliamentary lobbyists. Others would be barely legal, illegal or illegalized demonstrators, activists and work place militants. Some of that second group might unwisely or unwittingly become agents of the Russians? In any case, some sections of the popular press would condemn them as such. Industrial Workers of the World were "I Won't Works" or "Imperial Wilhelm's Warriors."
Poul Anderson captures the complexity of real societies in political sf novels like Mirkheim, The Day Of Their Return and The Game of Empire. Stirling also recognizes such complexity by realizing the diverse castes and communities of the Angrezi Raj: Anglicans; Hindus; Jains; Jews; Muslims; Sikhs. No Buddhists yet although it is mentioned that Hindus accept Christ, like the Buddha, as an avatar of Vishnu. What a world view!
15 comments:
Hi, Paul!
If I remember correctly, one source of the agents Count Ignatieff recruited inside the Empire were worshipers of the Hindu goddess of death and destruction, Kali. I'm not sure if these devotees of Kali were already sacrifcing humans to her and eathing their bodies, or whether it was Ignatieff who taught them those depravities. In any case, it can easily be seen how worship of Kali can become adoration of Satan.
Sean
Sean,
Yes, the Kali-ists were who I meant by "Thugs."
Another group of potential enemies that I missed out would be armed secessionists in Imperial provinces. Or nonviolent secessionists led by an alternative Gandhi.
Paul.
Hi, Paul!
I did think of the Thugs as well but wasn't sure what motivated them to become murderers and thieves. The Wikipedia article (yes, I know Wiki needs to be used with great caution) said the Thugs were plain old murderers and robbers, not motivated by religious reasons for their crimes.
Weren't there some people in the region we know in our timeline as Bangladesh who wanted to secede from the Empire? I recall how Count Ignatieff had a meeting with some of their leaders. And Japan/China also seems to have had agents in the Raj trying to stir up trouble.
Yes, I can see how Stirling's THE PESHAWAR LANCERS would remind you of Poul Anderson's novels MIRKHEIM, THE DAY OF THEIR RETURN, and THE GAME OF EMPIRE. Both authors wrote skillfully worked out novels of intrigue and skulduggery (I would have included ENSIGN FLANDRY, THE REBEL WORLDS, and A KNIGHT OF GHOSTS AND SHADOWS).
Sean
Sean,
For what it is worth, Stirling uses the word "Thug!" on p. 60.
Yes, I have just got to the revelation that Ignatieff met secessionist leaders.
Paul.
Hi, Paul!
And, of course "Thug" has passed into English, meaning a hoodlum and criminal.
Oops! I'm trying not to reveal too many spoilers in these notes of mine!
One thing I thought a bit in THE PESHAWAR LANCERS was how seldom Catholics are mentioned. After all, the Syro-Malabar rite "Thomas" Christians are Catholics in communion with Rome. To say nothing of how there must have been some Latin rite Catholics as well. We do see mention of the Catholics of France-Outre-Mer are determined and convinced Christians.
And I recall as well being disturbed at mention of how the Anglican Church of India was coming close to succumbing to Hinduism.
Sean
Sean,
Whereas I, for my part, applaud an Anglo-Hinduism or an Indo-Anglicanism. However, nothing could be viler than the Russian religion as imagined in this novel.
Paul.
Hi, Paul!
Alas, I have to disagree with you. Christianity and Hinduism are flatly opposed in many ways. I can never assent to ideas I believe to be false, such as polytheism, reincarnation, the caste system, etc.
But we do agree the Satanist religion of Russia is unspeakably vile! You would have to go back to the human sacrifices and cannibalism of the Aztecs to find a "religion" almost as nasty as the cult of Malik Nous.
Sean
Sean,
Almost...
Ignatieff believes that he will be able to torture his enemies in Hell! It cannot get worse than that. Some people really deserve to experience a hereafter where they find out that they were wrong but I just do not believe that it is going to happen.
Paul.
Hi, Paul!
Well, I do believe Gpd is real and that a hereafter does exist. But I had
forgotten that Ignatieff believed he would be able to torture his enemies in Hell. That certainly would be a Satanist's idea of Paradise!
Sean
There is a caste system in the United States of America, an 80% Christian nation. I agree that this is radically inconsistent with Christianity (or Islam, for that matter), but there it is.
Dear Cowan,
But that's merely a difference in "classes," caused by differences in wealth or social status. Nothing like the hereditary caste system of Hinduism and justified by its belief in reincarnation and karma.
Sean
Dear Mr. Cowan,
Apologies, I did not mean to address you so curtly as "Cowan." I forgot to add "Mr." before your name due to haste.
Sean
The harder it is for someone to rise (or fall) in class, the more class shades into caste. In the US the holdover from slavery & Jim Crow has made it harder for African descended people to rise in class, so it might not quite be caste (color) but it is not merely class.
Kaor, Jim!
And the racialist "gerrymandering" and demagoguery of the hard left in the US is making that problem worse!
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
Leftist gerrymandering?
Paul.
Post a Comment