Re: The Anarch

[Gerd Groenewold <venator@win.bright.net>]

Hello all,

> [Thomas Friese]  Actually I did not intend to stress the lawfulness of the society but rather
> the structure. I am sure he is able to operate in a less ordered society. (Sometimes here in
> Canada I long for a little less order. Or a lot more - to the point of a "strict regime" that
> hones the anarch's intelligence. The pleasant, odorless and invisible order we have here is
> particularly difficult to get a handle on. It cheates one into thinking that life is easy, that
> everything is O.K in one's own inner domain. The enemy is present, but invisible. One forgets
> he is there - another day, another week, another year in one's comfortable life passes and one
> has forgotten that there is a battle to fight, that full-stomached drowsiness has made one
> sleep through a crucial, perhaps unique moment, that yet another corner has been stolen from
> one's soul. This is the danger here. But I have digressed..)

I don't know that I would call that a digression.  I feel about the same
way in the USA.  As opposed to having the power to gravitate to, the
obvious, honest power, like the Condor, we instead have the dishonesty
of American "democracy," which is instead a bizarre sort of collective
demogoguery, with collective demogogues (the major parties) taking the
place of individual demogogues.  If we had a more honest sort of power,
a lifestyle like Manuel Venator's would not be out of the question, if
we had a breakdown of law and authority that was more complete a trip to
the woods somewhere to get away from it all for a time would make some
sense, instead we seem to be in a sort of inbetween land where neither
option is satisfactory.

My point was that Venator had two "modes" of life prepared, the one he
was living during Condor's reign, and the one in the ancient bunker that
he had prepared for when things broke down somewhat, something I assume
we will see more of as we approach the point in the book where his
preparations are being described.  I think it is important to note that
in the one case, where Condor is in charge and things are running
smoothly, the rules are clear, and therefore it is not overly difficult
for Venator to retain proper distance, but when things become less
clear, then it becomes a question not just of inner distance, but of
physically distancing himself from the chaotic situation.

> [Groenewold]  Next thing you know
> you are fanatically devoted to one side or the other, or at least acting
> like it, which would be a major mistake.
> [Thomas Friese]  I suppose this is true but I cannot personally imagine finding a worthwhile
> social cause in the present situation. Or acting. Better to flee at that point, right?   

That was exactly my point.

GERD