Chris Gidlow (via Nick):
<< Most modern people reading about the Lunar Empire will probably see
nothing wrong in the Lunar Way. It seems a benevolent and reasonable
ideology. This is exactly the feeling which many of us (perhaps not in
America) have about Socialism. Yet the Soviet Union was an atrocious state,
with hypocrisy, corruption and downright evil from the top downwards. In many
ways it could not be distinguished from the hierarchical feudal Russian
Empire which had proceeded it. Isn't this the way that we all see the Lunar
Empire? >>
Not really, no. Some may do so, no doubt, but we don't 'all' see it that way. The Lunar Empire, IMO, is no more (or less) an evil or atrocious state than any of the Heortling kingdoms are. Of course it has evil and unpleasant people within it, many of them at high levels of authority (of such things are fun scenarios constructed), but it also has many good people in it, at equally high levels. The Lunar Empire undoubtedly has its faults, but it has far less than the Soviet Union did, especially given the general nature of iron age civilisations.
Which, I think, demonstrates that we mustn't overdo the analogy, as I'm sure Chris would agree.
<<We can deduce that there is a great square at the heart of Glamour which
hosts grandiose military march pasts and over which Moonson waves from his
balcony (we can even deduce its name). [snip]. We know what kind of songs
Lunars are likely to sing, how their propaganda is likely to be worded, the
medals they get, the sort of food served in restaurants, and what the main
pleasure park in the capital is called. >>
The existence of the square, yes, fair enough. But otherwise I can't see the logic in this at all; it seems to be overextending the analogy to areas where it doesn't fit any more. Realising that the Lunars do, in some senses, have parallels with the Soviets tells you nothing about the names of their pleasure parks, as far as I can see...
<<These are very handy mental short cuts which I defy anyone to argue exist
if we say the Lunar Empire was rather like Archaemenid Persia or the Assyrian
Empire.>>
I would dispute the 'very handy' here.
Forward the glorious Red Army! (Now there's a parallel that does work wonderfully IMO)
Trotsky
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