Fictional characters who engage only in cynical power politics and power struggles are uninteresting and inauthentic. By "inauthentic," I mean not that no such individuals exist - look at the world right now! - but that life is not only or mainly about people like that. If a central character exercises power, then we need to be shown the lives and aspirations of some of the people over whom he exercises it. There should not be a permanently off-stage population of a future Earth or another planet. This is my problem with Frank Herbert's
Dune series and with some other sf.
In Poul Anderson's The People Of The Wind, the threat from Terra is met by:
the Marchwardens
the Wyvans
Khruaths
choths
the Parliament of Man
individual Avalonians, both Ythrian and human
(It is possible to search this blog for explanations of Planha terms.)
If the leading characters had been motivated only to exercise power over each other, then the book would have been very different and also not worth reading.
7 comments:
Life's about people 'like that' if they have the power of life and death over you.
Kaor, Paul!
Again, I agree more with Stirling than you. Also, stories focusing only on the boring details of everyday life would not appeal to me. I think most readers prefer stories showing problems and conflicts needing to be resolved. And those solutions can either succeed or fail.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
Sure but not conflicts only between the self-serving and power-seeking.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
And many still like stories like that.
Ad astra! Sean
Kaor, Paul!
Spy thrillers, mysteries, and political novels of the kind written by Allen Drury are examples of what I had in mind.
Ad astra! Sean
Gengis Khan sent a deputation to the Shahs of Khwarzem (modern eastern Persia and central Asia, more or less) to propose trade relations. The Shah had them killed. Much came from that... 8-).
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
I'll say! Genghis Khan utterly crushed the Persians in revenge for this violation of the laws and customs of diplomacy.
Ad astra! Sean
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