Simon Hollister asks a Venus colonial whether she believes in God and, when she says no, he replies:
"'You're wrong...Venus is your god...An Old Testament God...merciless, all-powerful, all-demanding. Get hold of a Bible if you can, and read Job and Ecclesiastes. You'll see what I mean. When is the New Testament coming...or even the prophet Micah?'"
-Poul Anderson, "The Big Rain" IN Anderson, The Psychotechnic League (New York, 1981), pp. 201-280 AT p. 232.
She replies that, after the Big Rain, Venus will be the Promised Land.
That is quite a good Biblically-informed dialogue:
the Old Testament;
divine characteristics;
Job;
Ecclesiastes;
the New Testament;
Micah, prophesying the Messiah;
the Promised Land.
I am particularly impressed with Hollister's understanding of the role of Micah.
3 comments:
Biblical images and metaphors are woven into Western culture. You really can't avoid using them, often unconsciously.
Mr Stirling,
I agree but the significance of Micah is a neat knowledgeable touch.
Paul.
Gentlemen,
And we see non Christian HINDUS using such Biblical metaphors in Harry Turtledove's story "The Last Article." Of course that came largely as a result of India being ruled by Christian Britons.
Sean
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