"observe." (CHAPTER THREE, p. 42);
"tewfik will also find it difficult to shift forces in the northeast..." (p. 43);
etc.
When Raj's advice has been accepted and his colleagues have left the room, his superior, the Vice-Governor, commends his work without entertaining the slightest notion of where Raj's ideas have come from. However, the military action on which they are about to embark does not sound commendable:
"'Kill and burn... don't leave a mosque standing...'" (p. 45)
Center's inner dialogue even extends to a comment on the Vice-Governor's wife who is present:
"deadlier than the male..." (p. 47)
We foresee a long and fruitful collaboration between Raj and Center. We also recognize that we are reading the distinctive sub-genre of military sf where knowledge and experience of warfare are deployed in an exotic setting that mixes high- and low-tech hardware.
One insightful observation:
"...there were plenty of men who could handle physical danger, the immediate and unexpected challenge, but who froze when they had to make the big decisions." (p. 46)
Raj judges that this Vice-Governor needs staff who can handle the pressures that he cannot, also that his wife has enough backbone for both of them. Thus, credible characters in a dramatic narrative.
7 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
As for the military action you did not find admirable, I agree, but it was commonly what happened in our real history for centuries with the Eastern Empire, Hungary, Poland, Russia, and their Muslim enemies. Raid and counter raid, invasion, plundering, looting, enslaving, etc. And that was to remain the case until the Ottoman Empire was defeated at the Siege of Vienna and started being driven back, forced on the defensive. So Barholm Clerett's orders to Raj were very plausible and realistic.
And again, I can see Drake/Stirling had Justinian I and his formidable wife Theodora in mind with these descriptions of Vice Governor Barholm Clerett and his wife Anne.
Sean
Jup, those were the models.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
I thought so! As you may know, my only real criticism of THE GENERAL books was thinking them too "rushed," that the events in them could have been spread out over a longer period of time. And I'm rather sorry we don't get to see Anne Clerett, four or five years after Governor Barholm succeeded his uncle, rallying her husband and his advisers in a moment of panic during their own equivalent of the Nika riots which nearly toppled our Justinian I in 532.
Sean
Sean: Alas, the Nika riots have been done too many times in SFnal form.
They do bring out, though, that simply because you're rebelling against an absolutist government doesn't make you a good guy.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
I agree, just because a despot is overthrown does not necessarily mean his successor will be better. In fact, he might be MUCH worse!
Understood, what you said about deciding not to use an equivalent of the Nika riots in your THE GENERAL books. But I'm sure you would have given us a graphic and gripping account if Raj Whitehall HAD needed to put such riots down.
We do see Raj acting decisively to nip in the bud an attempted coup by a faction at court against Barholm Clerett.
Sean
"And I'm rather sorry we don't get to see Anne Clerett, four or five years after Governor Barholm succeeded his uncle, rallying her husband and his advisers in a moment of panic during their own equivalent of the Nika riots which nearly toppled our Justinian I in 532."
Sean, Chapter One of The Forge established that the equivalent of the Nika riots had already taken place. "The feeling in his stomach reminded him of waiting behind the barricade during the street fighting last fall, when the sound of the rioters had come booming around the corner, thunder of feet and massed chanting of voices: Conquer! Conquer!" (pg 5)
As for Anne Clerett's role, there's a passage in Chapter Three: "Raj remembered her on the Plaza Balcony, during the riots, standing calmly and looking down at the sea of upturned faces.... Then she had raised her glass to the crowd and laughed, while torches and bricks fell short and the occasional bullet spanged off the ornamental stonework. ... Smiled, and said, 'I always did perform best with an enthusiastic audience.'"
Kaor, DAVID!
I should have mentioned that! But, strictly, the "Conquer" riots was during the reign of Barholm's uncle, so these riots were not directly aimed at Barholm himself. And, as others have commented, the alarmingly formidable Anne Clerett certainly had enough spine for any two men!
Sean
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