As soon as the Rangers attack the Protectorate troops, the collared laborers of the Protectorate immediately turn on the troops. This is sufficient proof that the Protectorate must be overthrown as quickly as possible. It is an enjoyable read but I hope to read further and reach narratives about the rebuilding of America after the worst dictators have been overthrown?
Definitely the last post for March, folks. I expect to read some comments on these last few posts.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
War is certainly horrible and destructive. But, as Poul Anderson wrote in his preface to SEVEN CONQUESTS, wars can sometimes have good ends in mind.
I don't want to reveal any spoilers, but I think you will be surprised by some of what you will read in A MEETING AT CORVALLIS.
Sean
Paul:
I was going to quote John Stuart Mill about there being worse things than war, but then I took another look at your remark about the Protectorate's slaves and realized I'd be preaching to the choir.
John D. MacDonald, better known for crime and suspense, also wrote some science fiction. *Ballroom of the Skies* reveals that Earth will NEVER be rid of war, because the Galactic government (which most of Earth's populace doesn't know exists) secretly sabotages all attempts at building a real peace. This is because war, famine, pestilence, and poverty toughen the spirits of Earthpeople so that we make ideal recruits ... to RUN the Galactic government.
Thus, if you ever wondered why Abraham Lincoln, Mohandas Gandhi, Yitzhak Rabin, and a host of others had to die, now you know: it's so lots of extraterrestrials can live fat, stupid, and happy lives, shielded by human misery. [My teeth grind every time I think about this book.]
Kaor, DAVID!
Your comments about the MacDonald book reminded me of the three JANISSARIES books co authored by Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle and another authored for the third volume. The premise is that an ancient Galactic Confederation has been kidnapping humans from Earth for thousands of years to both man the bureaucracy of the Confederation and settle another planet named Tran, kept at a deliberately primitive level of technology. From time to time Earth soldiers would be kidnapped and sent to Tran to grow recreational drugs popular inside the Confederation.
So, here we see humans being deliberately made miserable on Tran AND forced to grow drugs. All to keep the galactics fat, happy, and stupid! (Snorts)
Sean
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