Poul Anderson describes political upheavals realistically, giving proper attention to details and consequences:
the militia and most Sepo units stop fighting;
the Avantist leaders flee;
some claim asylum as the North American government in exile at the World Federation capital, Hiroshima;
the Liberation junta claims to be the interim government in the North American capital, Futuro;
the Federation Assembly discusses whether to recognize the new North American regime and will probably do so after an election;
meanwhile, the Federation Council accepts the junta's invitation for the Peace Authority to restore order and provide relief;
the Liberation Army is organized and disciplined but small;
the Chaotics, formerly united only against the Avantists, now split into their factions;
scores are settled;
citizens who had a stake in the Avantist order are revengeful;
the economy is wrecked;
probably, the current cooperation between the provisional government and the Federation Council will become entrenched and will then expand internationally into a new rational order more viable than Avantism because it is responding to a demand, not ideologically imposed.
Anderson thinks his way through to an unexpected outcome.
Kaor, Paul!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, as Anderson showed in this "thinking thru," one of the consequences of the revolution was the increased dominance of the World Federation. I would have preferred to weaken or lessen its power. But, as you said, Anderson considers all possibilities, bad as well as good.
Sean