Starship Stormtroopers

[Anglo-Saxon Philistine]

Starship Stormtroopers (http://flag.blackened.net/liberty/moorcock.html) was among Moorcock's more famous critical essays, along with Epic Pooh. Having re-read it recently, I am amazed by how spot-on most of the comments are - I wanted to protest that Asimov wasn't nearly as reactionary as Moorcock alleges, but to be honest, I think my affection for Asimov's stories has gotten the better of me, and the entire "the Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire in space" shtick is full of questionable assumptions. I think the only time he misses the mark is in his discussion of Wells - Wells's fairly disturbing racism is not mentioned.

Has anyone else read the essay, and what are your thoughts about it?

[Ethics Gradient, Traitor For All Ages]

I enjoyed the essay and can't disagree with it too much. I read a lot of reactionary fiction, but at this point I can spot the implicit themes so easily that it doesn't take me out of the story. If I can suspended my disbelief enough to read about talking cat aliens and living space ships, I can do the same for an intergalactic capitalist empire or the supposed power of individual Nazi ubermensch. I've actually never read Heinlein though, specifically because I know what a reactionary shit he is. So maybe I'm not as open-minded as I think.

The Stars My Destination is a great novel though, everyone should read it.

[Brandon's Impotent Rage]

You actually should give Heinlein a try, EG. Some of his stuff is truly fantastic.

And for real irony? His novel The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress is usually considered a 'libertarian' classic, but the revolutionary group that the plot is concerned with operates under a form of Democratic Centralism. :laugh: