"The Man Who Would Be Kzin." "The days when mere prowess in personal combat decided rank were long gone, of course; qualifications had to be met before challenges could be made." (p. 277)
Well, that is an advance! On Earth, we say that the days when mere accidents of birth and social status decided rank are long gone. When I worked as a Careers Adviser, I reminded clients that appropriate qualifications were necessary for some jobs. However, I cannot imagine telling anyone that possession of the relevant qualifications would entitle them to challenge the present occupant of a post to personal combat! We are being invited to imagine a rational species whose biology and psychology make them organize their society and armed forces on such a basis. Aliens, indeed.
2 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
But Kipling took a more cynical, and probably realistic view of such questions in his poem "The Last Department." He made it plain that "fear, favor, or interest" often decided who got posts. Not always, I agree, but it happens!
Ad astra! Sean
Kaor, Paul!
For an example from Kipling's works of how "fear, favor, interest," or plain old skulduggery can get valuable posts to the more unscrupulous, see his sardonic poem "The Post That Fitted."
Ad astra! Sean
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