Without doubt, science fiction is a genre that holds a large number of fiery polemics and debates. Authors and works that have passionate supporters and detractors, making rivers of ink, or bits in these cyber times, when to prosecute its alleged merits or defects. But if we are to choose which is the skeleton in the closet for excellence, the figure that makes all the fans by naming the genre turn red and look at the ground, that is
certainly L. Ron Hubbard, the man who hung up the typewriter to go into the stormy seas of religion. The operator of a sect that moves between the glamor of the big stars holliwoodienses and financial and judicial scandals. Today we will gain a little figure of the writer Hubbard. Hubbard to discuss the preacher, and there are millions of web sites which do. And here, preachers, except for the comic character of that name, we care very little. But it is undeniable that the author's background makes the two novels that comprise the series
Battleground Earth ragweed a first class geek.
Go ahead
the fact that I, personally, preachers I have them listed in the same category as malaria mosquitoes or venereal disease. The world would be better without them. As if that were not enough, when they fell into my hands the two novels that comprise the series of which I speak, I could not but recall the infamous film that was made based on them. That is why reading address loaded with a lot of prejudice, convinced that the leave after a couple of chapters, regretting the wasted time. But if not, I told myself that maybe it was a good idea to write a little blurb about it. And try it out as unbiased as possible. Because all I could see the work judged more in terms of how they judge its author the preacher Hubbard on its own merits or shortcomings.
-notice to mariners: Next step to eviscerate the argument- novel's action takes place in a typical post-apocalyptic future. We see human beings living like savages on what is presented as the ruins of a lost city in the mountains that has seen better times. The protagonist, Johnny Tyler, is convinced that his tribe should leave these unhealthy mountains, where there are only hunger and disease, and move to the plains, where game is plentiful, but clashes with tradition. Monsters living on those plains, legend, and this the great village of the ancestors, which should not be disturbed. Obviously, our hero will ignore the warnings and leave to explore the valley. Of course, you will find the ruins of the village of the ancestors (see later that this is Denver), and there will be captured by one of the legendary monsters.
monsters are anything but alien to the pay of the Intergalactic Mining Company, a corporation based on the planet Psiclo that was responsible for the genocide of the human race, in order to exploit monopoly in the Earth's mineral wealth without interference. The novel introduces us to this race of aliens as a treacherous and unscrupulous types, motivated only by profit. The monster that captures the protagonist is the security chief in charge of the planet, which is intended to defraud the corporation hiding the discovery of a gold mine, and operated in secret. But for this you need workers, and thought in human train and use them as slaves. Johnny will be the first.
In the first book, will see the protagonist as a miner training. Alien technology enable a savage turn around an expert in managing high-tech machinery, capable in turn train others. You will soon realize that the corporation as mining was the cause of the disaster of the human race, and the widespread corruption of senior executives of the company, and so, exploiting the climate of intrigue and mistrust, make your own plans, which are none other than training in secret to future miners as guerrillas, to in turn hand to strike and regain control of planet Earth. The first part of the saga ends with the triumph of the insurrection against the settlers earthling Psiclo.
In the second part, more complex narrative, the triumphant revolutionaries among them were engaged in struggles and political intrigue for power over the conquered planet. They will also have to face the attack of other extraterrestrial races, taking advantage of the power vacuum created by the withdrawal of Psiclo, want to be in the desirable booty planet Earth is a seemingly fragile defended by a loosely organized guerrilla force. Finally, in a fine detail of irony, once attained its independence on the battlefield will be on the verge of losing all the gains at the hands of the Intergalactic Bank, when they discover that, as the new government has inherited the debts that the entity had contracted the mining corporation whose regime was overthrown. For this last battle will be need both wit and rather than actual military action.
The story is interesting. It is a masterpiece, no doubt, but his reading is fun. Narrative, then we realize who is the master of Hubbard: individualistic characters, contempt for the organized power of government and all sorts, the exaltation of military ethics ... we are clearly an imitation of Heinlein, who spends Hubbard work. The influence of the heavy weight of science fiction is evident throughout the plot.
Finally, a farewell, I can not insert a fragment of the novel that particularly caught my attention: This place
South Africa close to the large power station, used by land to lay a trap for the games, was being cleaned, and this gave the first clue. Were building a pagoda-like structure, several, actually. In a reference discovered ancient texts that the design was that of a "house of worship." So the military agreed that the planet had experienced a new political uprising. It was imposed religious fanatics. Religions are very dangerous ... inflamed people. Any sensible government and military should annihilate them. But at that time were not interested in politics and religion. Expect. Curious coming from the pen of a preacher, right?
