Fights of Fancy: Armed Conflict in Science Fiction and Fantasy

Rating:
Summary: They killed a perfectly good tree for this?
Review: From the introduction:

" . . . casual readers automatic association of SF with warefare and armed conquest -- and in extreme cases with militaristic jingoism, such as that in Robert Heinlein's notorious Starship
Troopers."

1) Generally Science Fiction is associated speculation about the future, space travel and aliens.

Except of course in the minds of pretentious editors.

2) Jingoism, according to Websters, "extreme chauvinism or nationalism . . . belligerent foreign policy" Since Starship Troopers details the *defense* of earth against attack I'm not sure how this is Jingoistic.

3) "Robert Heinlein's notorious Starship Troopers" - - - *Notorious*!?

There is *one* excellent article by Joe Haldeman in this book. (Vietnam and other Alien Worlds)Brilliantly crafted, clear concise . . . Of course Professor Haldeman has an unfair advantage over the rest of the contributors in this book. He is a professional writer and his editors expect results.

If you expect anything about Science or warfare or the future you will be sadly disappointed. This book (excepting Professor Haldeman's essay) is an utterly boring, pretentious, intellectual
wasteland, completely devoid of the slightest bit of imagination, information or originality.