From the introduction to the first edition of Gamma World (1978), describing the events that laid the groundwork for the destruction of human civilization:
Having conquered the rigors of simple survival, man was able to turn his energies to more esoteric considerations – theology, political ideology, social and cultural identification, and development of self-awareness. These pursuits were not harmful in themselves, but it soon became fashionable to identify with and support various leagues, organizations, and so-called "special interest groups." With the passage of time, nearly all of the groups became polarized, each expressing and impressing its views to a degree that bordered on fanaticism. Demonstrations, protests, and debates became the order of the day. Gradually, enthusiasm changed to mania, then to hatred of those who held opposing views. Outbreaks of violence became more frequent, and terrorists spread their views with guns and bombs.
If he only knew when he wrote that how the world would be now.
ReplyDeleteThat really is amazing, read today.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's uncomfortably close to home, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteThat's the most disheartening thing I've read all week and I've read a LOT of disheartening things this week.
ReplyDeleteNote that our real-life culture has almost completely skipped the "development of self-awareness" part of that laundry list, and has for the most part spent generations actively opposing any social or cultural identifications that didn't jibe with conformity to some very narrow and exclusionary ideals.
ReplyDeleteI suspect many people felt the same about the world when those words were first written. Recall the 1968 democratic national convention, urban riots, the Vietnam War, Jane Fonda, protests, drug use, Richard Nixon, Abscam, the oil embargo, Iran hostage crisis, etc.
ReplyDeleteIt's a sentiment true across the ages I'm afraid.
ReplyDeleteYep. That describes the present, and the 70s, pretty well. Also the 80s and 90s and whatnot. :)
ReplyDeleteConsider when this was written. It's easy to see this as somehow "oddly prescient" but really, this was just an observation and extrapolation of what was going on in the 1970s, when groups like the PLO, Black Panthers, Weathermen, and other groups becoming prominent.
ReplyDeleteOh woe! The end is near! Or... erm... "Special interest groups" have been spreading their gospel with fire and steel for a few millenia if memory serves.
ReplyDeleteYes, but until relatively recently the vast majority of people didn't have the means to near-instantly express their views to the world at large, such as we have with the wonderful, terrible internet. Therein lies the difference.
ReplyDeleteThat's both creepy and a bit funny at the same time.
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