Use Of Texts

A clergyman writing a sermon sometimes takes a Biblical verse and hangs some general remarks on it. I find it possible to do the same with the works of Poul Anderson and I also think that, in general, this is a legitimate procedure. A comprehensive body of fictional works reflects life both explicitly and implicitly. Thus, a single instance of a dialogue interrupted with catastrophic consequences (see Miscommunication) reminds us of many other such instances. If Poul Anderson had written unrealistic conversations in which every speaker not only completed what s/he had to say but also received a rational response to it, then his novels and short stories would not have reflected life as it is. Platonic and other philosophical dialogues present ideas in a dramatic form but do not reproduce realistic conversations. I was disappointed when an antagonistic character in a Heinlein short story resorted to merely abusing the viewpoint character but then it occurred to me that this was a realistic, emotionally charged argument.

Events in Anderson's future histories make us reflect on similar events in real history and this is one of the things that they are meant to do. So the floor is open: start with something in an Anderson work, then say what you want.