There is sf, war fiction and sf war fiction. HG Wells' titles include The War Of The Worlds and The War In The Air. There are Star Wars films and we could list sf novels and collections with the word, "War," in their titles.
Wars are fought for reasons. The Terran War is a border dispute and ends when the border between Empire and Domain has been readjusted. The Company Wars are fought because taxation on interstellar trade is resisted. See Interstellar Wars. However, as the conflict intensifies, the Earth Company gives up the tax and uses its funds to build a great Fleet which fights on even when abandoned by Earth. Thus, it seems that this war becomes an end in itself.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
And I'm finding Cherryh's scenario very implausible. INTERSTELLAR taxation will not be practical unless the state imposing such taxes can exert its authority on an interstellar scale. Otherwise they become mere tariffs on imports which can be avoided either by smuggling or not trying to do business on Earth.
And the Earth Company can't build and MAINTAIN a large space navy unless it can draw on the resources needed for that. Being abandoned by Earth means its fleet would soon be useless. LOGISTICS, in other words! Anderson made similar points in THE REBEL WORLDS.
Ad astra! Sean
Wars are fought for variations on the -same- reason: making people do what you want them to do. (Even if that's only "die").
Which is why war and politics are pretty much the same 'sort of thing'.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
Of course I agree all wars boils down to one thing: making the other side do what you want them to do.
But I was thinking of how Paul's summary of Cherryh's story made it plain she did not understand the practicalities of what it takes to fight a war. Which is why I had mind that discussion Aaronn Snelund had with Admiral Pickens' in THE REBEL WORLDS.
Ad astra! Sean
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