Steve Matuchek speculates about how lunar-based demons might mislead mankind:
(i) a strong, modern country might lose a major war, then take out its grudges on the whole world, starting with the Jews;
(ii) an ideology claiming that human nature can be changed might take over a large, backward country with secret police, concentration camps and mass slaughters...
"Such things can happen." (p. 265)
You don't have to tell us. But did we need lunar demons to teach us it?
"WE WILL DO WITHOUT THE ANTICHRIST. HE WAS NEVER NECESSARY. MEN HAVE ALWAYS LED THEMSELVES UNTO ME."
-James Blish, Black Easter IN Blish, After Such Knowledge (London, 1991), pp. 319-425 AT 17, p. 423.
The Ransom Trilogy and After Such Knowledge are helpful companion volumes to Poul Anderson.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
As regards your bullets "i" and "ii," I too immediately thought, in our time line of how the Nazis took over an embittered and defeated Germany; and of how the Communists took over an even more unlucky Russia.
The Saracen Caliphate of the OPERATION timeline was the analog of the Nazis, but I don't think we see anything similar to the Communists taking over a large, backwards country.
Ad astra! Sean
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