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[bryant]

I dropped by Tom Kratman’s web board the other day to find out what my favorite Baen author had been up to lately, and found this excerpt from an upcoming novel:

Thomas felt unwelcome tears. He forced them back only with difficulty. So gallant, so brave they were, those boys over there fighting and dying against such odds, and with so little hope.

Gribeauvil, seeing the boy’s emotions written upon his twisted face, said, “Yes, son; give them their due. They are a great people, a magnificent people. And we are damned lucky to have them, now.”

Thomas agreed. And more; he thought of himself, alone, trying to save his mother and little brother from the alien menace. He wished to be a man, was becoming one, he knew. But alone he could never have made the slightest difference for his family’s survival. That took an army, an army of brave men and boys, willing to give their all for the cause of their people.

Perhaps for the first time, Thomas began to feel a deep pride, not so much in himself, but in the men he served with, in the army they served, and even in the black-clad, lightning bolt-signified, corps that was a part of that army.

Thomas was learning.

“Those boys” would be SS soldiers. The black-clad lightning bolt-signified corps is the SS. And don’t forget the depersonalization — Thomas is nothing by himself. He can only matter as part of an army. In this case, he only matters because he’s part of the SS.

Someone asked Kratman why he chose the SS. He gave three reasons:

a) Good troops taking, in many cases, a bum rap. b) a way to further annoy the left, literarily. c) Moreover, though you doubtless have not been following the snippets, in the context of John Ringo’s Posverse ALL mankind are going to become something very like them…the few who survive anyway.

Yeah. The SS weren’t so bad, it’s fun using shock tactics to piss people off, and everyone’s going to wind up like the SS in that universe anyhow.

Comments

[bryant]

Sure. I don't remember what sales rank they hit when they were released, because I really don't care that much, but yep -- it's a minor field, and we're talking print runs in the thousands at the most. Small potatoes. Still, you asked, and I felt I ought to answer.

Anyhow, you're absolutely right: you can't please everyone. For my part, I don't really expect to please you with my commentary on your writing. A wise man once said "Please feel free not to read anymore," and I commend that advice to you.

But when you set atrocities in Waco, Texas -- when you interject subtle praise for tax protesters into your chapter openings -- when you parrot revisionist historians regarding the SS -- when you write Jerry Pournelle to imply that you and your fellow American soldiers are not dedicated to "current political principles" -- when you sign your posts "Lee surrendered; I didn't" --

I will comment. I'm a student of the militia movements in this country, and I pay attention to the neo-Confederate movement. I recognize your rhetoric, and if you do not realize how closely you are following the line set forth by some of America's domestic terrorists I sincerely and strongly recommend you do some research.

I suspect, however, that you know exactly what you're saying.

Regardless, I'll keep an eye out for Watch on the Rhine. I don't believe in keeping a closed mind. I don't think you'll take me up on this offer -- I probably wouldn't if I were you -- but I'd be happy to read the whole thing right now and write as unbiased a review as I'm capable of writing. I don't mind eating my words when I turn out to be wrong.

[(Anonymous)]

I'll think about it but frankly I doubt I will. I really have about as much reason to trust you as I would, say, Gene Smith. And I have no reason to trust him at all.

And I really don't mind criticism. You would be very surprised. What I object to is criticism based on some small facet, taken out of context. And thus we have, for the nonce, an impass.

Let me give you one hint though: writing fiction is, for me anyway, a form of method acting. What my characters do, say or believe is only rarely what I believe, but is generally what I think _they_ believe. Sometimes,I even know it is what they believe or claim to believe. Willie's speech before congress is, forex, a truncated version of the DNC party platform for election 2000. Oh, yes it is.

Tom

[(Anonymous)]

Damn. I see there are anumber of things I didn't answer.

1. I didn't say I was retired from the army. Ringo said I would be retired before anyone could take revenge on me for ASOD. He is wrong. And I may yet be punished.

2. I think Waco, in the way it was done, was an atrocity. Not for killing the adults. It is the killing of the kids that bothers me.

3. Before being recalled for active duty I was a taxlawyer. I know the system well. And I hate it, as much for the endless lies in the way it is portrayed as in that I think the government simply spends too much money.

4. The comment in pournelle's site (and he has been on my do not talk to list for 4 years) was in relation to starship troopers, the book. Most soldiers, not all but most, would approve of a constitutional amendment to require national service before becoming an enfranchised citizen. Yes I know there are problems with it but TRY sometime to have a conversation on the subject without it turning into a screaming match.

5. I have not surrendered my principle that the federal government has grown too big and too powerful. And I am willing to risk court-martial over it if need be.

tom