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“Science Fiction” Novels of the 1950s  (5)

The “military” subgenre is “established,” and satire is emphasized

(Romanian)

Starship Troopers (also Starship Soldier) by Robert A. Heinlein (1959) is a controversial novel that explores (in a provocative way that continues to be relevant today) themes related to military service, citizenship, and political philosophy (with an emphasis on “elements” such as the nature of democracy, the role of government, and individual rights, a work criticized for promoting militaristic and authoritarian values, being interpreted by some critics as a justification of authoritarianism, while others have seen it as an exploration of civic ethics and duty, for example, via Rico’s teacher, Mr. Dubois, expounds the ideology that “duty comes before rights”, which is a kind of central element of the novel’s philosophy), in an action-packed futuristic setting.

From a “technical” point of view, the novel, which has a “special emphasis” on military science fiction and political philosophy, falls into:

• Military science fiction, describing in detail the training, technology, and military tactics of the Star Infantry, with an emphasis on military values ​​such as discipline, courage, and loyalty, with the war against the “Arachnid” aliens being a central element of the plot.
• Political science fiction, Heinlein explores themes related to citizenship, military service, and individual rights, presenting a future society in which military service is an essential condition for citizenship (including the author’s political philosophy being presented in detail).
• Space opera, even though the novel is not considered a classic space opera, features elements of space adventure and interstellar conflict, with space travel and advanced military technology being described in detail.
• Dystopia (controversial), with some critics considering the novel a dystopia, due to its emphasis on military and authoritarian values, with criticism focusing on the political ideas presented in the novel, which have been interpreted as militaristic and authoritarian.

Heinlein presents a future society in which military service is an essential condition for citizenship, and military values ​​are omnipresent, where, through the protagonist Juan “Johnny” Rico, he follows his evolution from an indecisive young man to a respected military leader, describing in detail the rigorous training of Star Infantry recruits (including presenting futuristic military technologies, such as mechanized combat suits and some advanced weapons – for example, he introduces the concept of “mobile infantry”, soldiers equipped with advanced exoskeletons, capable of amplifying an individual’s strength, mobility and combat capability), emphasizing the importance of responsibility, discipline, courage and loyalty (up to personal sacrifice), as they fight against a hostile alien race (which threatens human existence), called “Arachnide” (The Bugs), in a brutal and bloody war.

Opera lui Heinlein a influențat generații de scriitori de science fiction militar (fiind considerat un punct de referință în genul military SF, alături de The Forever War (Joe Haldeman) și Old Man’s War (John Scalzi) și alte lucrări ulterioare), inspirând noi idei și concepte (tehnologii și tactici militare inovatoare pentru literatura SF a vremii, reprezentate de exoscheletele și armurile asistate, ce se constituia ca un concept SF revoluționar, influențând viitoarele opere de ficțiune cum ar fi Halo, Warhammer 40K, The Forever War, sau introduce și tactici militare bazate pe desant aerian cu soldați care se parașutează din orbită, o idee extrem de avansată pentru anii ’50), romanul fiind adaptat în mai multe filme, seriale animate și jocuri video, ajungând la un public larg (inspirând filmul Starship Troopers, 1997, regizat de Paul Verhoeven, care însă satirizează mesajul original al romanului și  „continuările” acestuia).

Heinlein’s work influenced generations of military science fiction writers (being considered a reference point in the military SF genre, along with The Forever War (Joe Haldeman) and Old Man’s War (John Scalzi) and other later works, inspiring new ideas and concepts (innovative military technologies and tactics for the SF literature of the time, represented by exoskeletons and powered armor, which constituted a revolutionary SF concept, influencing future works of fiction such as Halo, Warhammer 40K, The Forever War, or introducing military tactics based on airborne landings with soldiers parachuting from orbit, an extremely advanced idea for the 1950s), the novel being adapted into several films, animated series and video games, reaching a wide audience (inspiring the film Starship Troopers, 1997, directed by Paul Verhoeven, which, however, satirizes the original message of the novel and its “sequels“).

Dorsai! (also: The Genetic General) by Gordon R. Dickson (1959) is another pillar of the military SF genre, the first volume in the epic “Childe Cycle” series (which went on to explore the evolution of humanity in a unique way, becoming a reference work in SF literature) and explores themes related to human evolution, war/militarism, and military philosophy.

From a “technical” point of view, we are dealing with:

• Military science fiction, describing in detail the training, technology, and military tactics of the Dorsai, a race of super-soldiers, with an emphasis on military values ​​such as discipline, courage, and loyalty, with military strategies and the philosophy of war being explored in depth.
• Space opera, where, even though it is not a classic space opera, it features elements of space adventure and interstellar conflict, in a detailed futuristic world where interstellar travel is a key element of the plot.
• Social science fiction, Dickson explores the impact of human evolution on society, presenting a world in which the Dorsai represent a superior stage in human evolution (intercultural relations and social structure being amply detailed).
• Speculative science fiction, Dickson speculates on the possible directions of human evolution and the role of war in the development of the human species, exploring ideas related to genetics, evolution, and military philosophy.

Compared to Starship Troopers, where the action and ideology are in plain sight, Dorsai! is more subtle, placing more emphasis on character development and the philosophical implications of its universe, with themes including free will vs. destiny, the responsibility of power, and the nature of humanity.

Dickson creates a race of super-soldiers called “Dorsai” (the author suggests that the Dorsai represent a higher stage in human evolution, capable of surpassing ordinary human limits, suggesting that the future of humanity lies in the development of specialized traits at a higher level), a caste of elite warriors, mercenaries, known for their exceptional military skills and their strict philosophy, the protagonist, Donal Graeme, being an exceptional Dorsai and a leader who changes the rules of the military and political game, an almost superhuman strategist, who stands out for his intelligence, his military skills and his strategic vision, having an extraordinary capacity for military analysis and foresight.

The novel presents a detailed and believable futuristic world (in this universe, humanity has expanded across the galaxy, and colonies have specialized in various fields such as war, trade, and culture), with complex politics and a variety of human cultures, exploring themes related to military philosophy, such as the nature of war, the role of leadership, and the importance of strategy.

“Dorsai!” influenced generations of military science fiction writers, inspiring new ideas and concepts, and approaching themes related to human evolution and military philosophy in a provocative way that continues to be relevant today (later influencing similar creations in science fiction, such as the Mandalorian Warriors Warriors in Star Wars or the Spartan soldiers in Halo) and authors such as David Weber (Honor Harrington), John Scalzi (Old Man’s War) and Joe Haldeman (The Forever War).

The Pirates of Ersatz (alt: The Pirates of Zan) by Murray Leinster is a gripping, suspenseful classic space adventure and satire (space opera) novel, featuring space pirates, spaceships, and exotic planets, presenting a detailed and believable futuristic world with complex politics and a variety of human cultures, exploring themes of exploration, adventure, and survival in a cosmic setting full of danger and mystery.

“Technical” framing:

• Space opera, presenting a classic space adventure, with space pirates, spaceships, and exotic planets, with elements of adventure, action, and space exploration being predominant in the narrative.
• Space adventure, the central theme of the novel is adventure in space, with an emphasis on exploring new and dangerous worlds.
• A Social science fiction, Leinster explores themes related to the organization of space societies, intercultural conflicts, and the impact of technology on society, presenting a complex society with different ethnic groups.
• Speculative science fiction, speculating on the possibilities of extraterrestrial life and the challenges of space exploration, exploring ideas related to advanced technologies and the dangers of space.

Leinster enthusiastically describes space exploration, presenting various planets and extraterrestrial civilizations, the protagonist, Burl Donnan, is an atypical hero (an intelligent and pragmatic hero, who solves problems more through strategy than violence), a young engineer who dreams of technological progress, but who ends up, without being a classic fighter, but rather a technological genius, through a series of comic and dramatic events, becoming a space pirate (even though he does not want to be a pirate, he discovers that the life of an interstellar outlaw offers him a freedom that “civilized” society does not allow), being forced to navigate a rigid and absurd society, proving his intelligence and adaptability, and the skills to survive in a hostile environment.

The novel is a fun and relaxing read, full of humor and optimism, in a universe where bureaucracy, aristocracy, and rigid traditions are ridiculed, the main character confronting absurd rules and the hypocrisy of the authorities, which makes the novel also a subtle criticism of power structures, transmitting a message of hope and confidence in the future.

Overall, the novel had a major influence on the “space opera” genre, and its elements of humor, adventure, and technology later influenced authors such as Douglas Adams (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) and Lois McMaster Bujold (Vorkosigan Saga).

That Sweet Little Old Lady (aka: Brain Twister) by Mark Phillips (aka, the collaborative pseudonym of Randall Garrett and Laurence M. Janifer), is the first book in a trilogy (Brain Twister, The Impossibles, Supermind – which continues the development of themes related to paranormal investigations), exploring themes related to telepathy, espionage and manipulation, in a futuristic setting full of suspense and humor, the novel being one that combines science fiction with the detective genre, having a plot centered on the investigation of a crime using telepathic abilities, with many twists and suspense.

From a “technical” point of view, it falls into several subgenres of science fiction, with a particular emphasis on telepathy and espionage:

• Psychological science fiction, exploring the impact of telepathy on the human psyche, showing how mental abilities can be used to manipulate and control, the central theme being the protagonist’s struggle to maintain his mental integrity in an environment full of telepathic spies.
• A Science fiction thriller, with an atmosphere of suspense and mystery, with gripping action and unexpected twists, the elements of espionage and counter-espionage adding a thriller dimension to the story.
• Telepathy, the theme of telepathy being central to the book, is the main way in which the action unfolds and through which the state of tension is created.
• SF humor, with a humorous twist, sprinkled with funny lines.

The novel presents a world in which telepathy is a real ability, used for both good purposes (exploring in detail the idea of ​​law enforcement based on psi abilities) and evil (exploring how telepathy can be used to manipulate people’s minds, raising ethical questions related to thought control), the protagonist, Kenneth J. Malone, being a telepathic agent (assigned to solve a bizarre case in which the government suspects the existence of a telepathic spy) who faces a network of telepathic spies, testing his skills and loyalty, introducing the concept of “mind crimes”, where the culprit leaves no physical traces, which makes the investigation much more difficult.

Phillips uses humor and satire to address serious themes (he satirizes government bureaucracy and Cold War paranoia, including the fear of espionage and unknown technologies), creating a relaxed and entertaining atmosphere, the novel’s characters are complex and well-defined, each with their own traits and secrets, approaching the theme of telepathy originally and innovatively, presenting a world in which telepathy is integrated into everyday life.

The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. (1959) is a satirical and philosophical science fiction novel that combines elements of science fiction, satire, and philosophy, satirizing aspects of modern society, such as the obsession with power, wealth, and religion, exploring themes related to free will, the meaning of life, and the absurdity of existence, in a cosmic setting full of black humor and irony.

“Technical”:

• Satirical science fiction, Vonnegut uses satire to criticize aspects of human society, such as religion, politics, and the obsession with power, with black humor and irony being key tools in addressing serious themes.
• Philosophical science fiction, addressing deep questions about the meaning of life, free will, and the role of chance in existence, exploring ideas related to determinism, relativity, and the nature of reality.
• Space opera (with a twist), because although it contains space opera elements, such as interstellar travel and encounters with alien civilizations, the novel subverts the conventions of the genre through its absurd humor and cynical outlook, using space travel as a framework to explore philosophical and satirical themes.
• Absurd science fiction, embracing the absurdity of existence, presenting bizarre events and eccentric characters, an unconventional approach that is a defining characteristic of Vonnegut’s work.

The novel presents a detailed and believable futuristic world, with complex politics and a variety of human cultures, the characters are eccentric and memorable, each with their traits and flaws, where the main character, Malachi Constant, a superficial billionaire, is drawn into a cosmic adventure that takes him from Earth to Mars, Mercury, and Titan (Saturn’s moon), the events being manipulated by Winston Niles Rumfoord, a man caught in a bizarre temporal phenomenon, which makes him omniscient, but transforms him into an almost divine presence.

The events introduce the Tralfamadorian race, extraterrestrial beings who play a crucial role in Vonnegut’s philosophy, revealing that all of human history (including major wars and conflicts) was manipulated merely to send a trivial spare part to a faulty Tralfamadorian ship (a revelation that emphasizes humanity’s insignificance in the vastness of the universe), exploring the idea that human life is an absurd game, driven by forces beyond our understanding.

Vonnegut presents a cynical and satirical view of human existence, suggesting that life is often meaningless and controlled by random forces, using dark humor and irony to address serious themes, and creating a satirical and provocative atmosphere.

Additionally, time and space travel are explored, presenting a variety of planets and alien civilizations, the protagonists being forced to live their lives according to a cosmic plan, without having the real possibility of changing anything, introducing the Church of the Divine of Indifference, a religion created on Mars that teaches people to accept fate without fighting it (as a subtle criticism of religious conformism and the way leaders use faith to manipulate the masses), and many of the ideas in The Sirens of Titan – such as determinism, the circular nature of time, and the influence of the Tralfamadorians – would later be developed in Slaughterhouse-Five (1969), Vonnegut’s masterpiece.

And, with this episode, I think that enough argumentative elements about science fiction novels of the 1950s have been presented.

Merticaru Dorin Nicolae

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