Seiler%MIT-XX@sri-unix.UUCP (06/22/83)
From: Larry Seiler <Seiler@MIT-XX>
Replies to two messages in issue 40:
It is a mystery to me why anyone likes the Thomas Covenant books. On the
other hand, I have a friend whose tastes in SF are in many ways similar to
mine, and it is a mystery to him why I DON'T like the TC books. I explained
that I felt zero sympathy for TC himself (and for his refusal to believe in
the Land) and my friend more-or-less agreed with that, but replied that I
ought to be interested in the Land. Looking at it rationally, I think I
should have gotten interested in the Land, but I didn't, and that's that.
So cheer up, Laura, there are others who can't take Thomas Covenant. No
criticism inplied of those who do like it - some of my best friends do!
Now, about Heinlein's Moon is a Harsh Mistress... I don't think Heinlein
was making a political statement in that book, but it is certainly possible
to draw various political statements out of it. You could argue that
libertarianism is the best form of "government" - after all, the most
admirable characters in the book felt that way. Or you could argue that
libertarianism cannot work in any ordinary society, since it only worked
on the moon during a period of anarchy enforced by an outside power
("We don't have any laws - we've never been allowed to"), and disappeared
as soon as the outside power that enforced it was eliminated (figurtively
speaking). Anyway, I wouldn't call it a libertarian book.
Larry Seiler
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