I wondered why Hollister thought that the set-up on Venus was necessary yet was against it but it becomes clear:
"'Venus has to be collective until the Big Rain, I suppose, but that doesn't give anyone the right to collectivize the minds of men. By the time this hell-hole is fit for human life, the government will be unshakeably in the saddle. Basic principle of psychobiology: survival with least effort. In human society, one of the easiest ways to survive and grow fat is to rule your fellow men.'" (VI, p. 250)
The Guardians are preparing not only for the terraforming of Venus but also for their continued dictatorship after the terraforming. It just means that yet another revolution is necessary, I suppose. Anderson's first future history series follows Heinlein's.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Exactly! Autocratic, despotic regimes will do their best to cling to power and to survive. It's simply what humans like to do, craving power and status. Here we see Anderson having no illusions about politics.
Ad astra! Sean
Post a Comment