The Art of War is perhaps one of the most well-known works in thousands of years of ancient Chinese history. At first glance, this work, which many commanders said he read and was inspired by, is understood as a speech about what happened at the front. However, it is not just that. The reason Sun Tzu has been known for centuries and is still leading the way is that the aforementioned war is not just the battle that started on the front and ended there. It contains words and determinations that can be taken as an example at many points, from politics to the most basic relations of people. Those who do not know their enemy cannot recognize themselves; Those who do not know themselves are doomed to lose. We can summarize Sun Tzu's words humbly with this sentence. A unique example of an approach that demonstrates the value of the relationship between knowing and earning.
Published as the eighth work of the Metis Sci-Fi Series, Two Worlds are at War, treats a similar situation on a fictional platform. As a result of the war between Mars and Earth, both planets were destroyed. Mars has taken over the Moon as an invader, established a pioneer outpost, and took control of Earth. Although the citizens of Mars and Earth are content with trying to survive, for some this has not been enough to hide the uncertainty about the cause of the war. Why had so many mistakes been made, and how did the destruction reach such a terrifying point? When the search for the unknown becomes apparent at an unexpected point, it remains to trace back and open the veil of mystery.
Poul Anderson is one of the pioneers of fantasy and science fiction. His fantastic works contain beautiful details that have reached the quality of many writers of his period and inspired the next generations. Instead of superficial expressions and designs, the idea of deep analysis has thoroughly riveted. On the other hand, although he did not catch up with the Golden Age of science fiction, he was closer to the old literary tradition rather than the New Wave. The first feature that stands out in science fiction works is his effort in the explanation of scientific consistency. He makes a considerable effort to convey the conditions of the fictional universe he created, and especially the details embellished with the nature depictions, thus strengthening the bond he wishes to be established between the reader and the text.
In addition, it is seen that scientific explanations have a nuanced attitude towards not damaging the literary texture of the work. Since he does not want the academic language in the articles to be embedded in his literary style, he takes on a balancing style. The counterpart of this style shows itself with poetic touches that we usually encounter in some places. In this respect, he does not refer to the intense language games and metaphors used by the New Wave writers. It embellishes its text to the extent that the reader can connect with the world it creates, and it is content with a minimum amount of explanation. Thus, it creates both a sincere style and a fluid work.
The author, who was heavily influenced by the atmosphere of the Second World War, interpreted the Cold War that developed afterwards with a similar effect. The global devastation of war is terrible. It has changed the basic dynamics of humanity and opened the door to a new era. The roles of the new world, which emerged in this direction, are ambiguously distributed.
As is known, the sides of wars are always visible, but the truth is usually hidden behind what is seen. Few people take responsibility, but ultimately the lives of millions of people are affected. This is the essence of the operation of the war and of the social mechanism in general. The mistake or success of a commander can deeply affect the fate of an entire country; it's full of history-like examples. However, examples where the decision authority was given incorrectly were also noted in the dusty pages of history. Manipulation and greed can blind the will and drive it to extinction.
Therefore, the strategy and planning stage is the most important stage in terms of winning the war. It is the point where knowing your enemy gives an advantage to win the war. War is a dirty game, a ruthless act in which everything is seen as permissible for victory; However, it is another fact that simple goals lie in the background of the event. Historians who study the Crusades tell how quickly the soldiers, encouraged by the Pope, forgot the holy purpose and material well-being changed their lives.
On the fourth of the expeditions, the soldiers set out for the holy Istanbul, and as soon as they breathe the enchanting air of the magnificent city they saw on their arrival, they begin to act with the ambition to own it. Those who come as hope turn into a nightmare; Or do those who come desperate find new hope? It all depends on where you are looking from. However, events never develop as expected and do not end. Or in other words, the account in the house does not fit the market.
The reason why Poul Anderson is a good writer is that he has the competence to explain all the details mentioned above and the details that can be opened in pages. We all know that literature is a tradition of expression. We pass on cultural elements that human beings have accumulated for centuries from generation to generation through narratives. The texts we construct are also a result of this accumulation. However, one point should not be overlooked here. In fictional narratives, the primary goal is for the reader to be compatible with the protagonist. This is due to the fact that emotional ups and downs will catch the reader and make the reading adventure more effective. Joseph Campbell has well described what will happen when one associates the development of one's own life with the development of another creature with empathy.
To match the wound to the wound will pave the way for love and emotional bond to be established. Metaphors and descriptions are also required in his decision. As in the example of Chekhov's pistol, the more items that do not serve the plot of the text, the more it distances the reader from himself. Of course, this also has value. His command of the language shows the quality of the author. However, if his command of the language prevents his domination of the text, the reader will soon be cut off and leave the ship. Before telling, it is necessary to determine the relationship of the story with the people who are told. If this is applied correctly, a fluent plot decorated with a narrative in the decision and characters that are present with appropriate emphasis are presented, it binds the reader and feeds the mind like a food with high nutritional value. Let it describe both a fantastic universe and a different galaxy; It is the data it provides about the nature of human being that determines. If he finds a piece of himself, he moves on one after the other, and during this progress he listens more carefully to what Campbell said, his mentor's words. This is the basis of narration. Do you think it was a coincidence that Poul Anderson considered it still one of the most valuable items today?
Two Worlds at War is a valuable work that raises important questions about war and points out how unpredictable what can be done to survive. The hallmark of the novel, which has a unique place among science fiction works even with its narration, is that it acts without confining its reader to an anthropocentric narrow universe interpretation and shows that the perception that the difference is bad is a mistake.
