Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Arthur C. Clarke & Gun Control (vanity)

Posted on 05/10/2011 12:11:36 PM PDT by Abin Sur

I'm a big fan of written SF. I can enjoy reading authors whose political views differ from my own so long as their politics don't clumsily interfere with the story. I recalled an essay by Arthur C. Clarke that illustrates just how whacked out his views were. and was able to find it online. I present to you an excerpt from "Scenario for a Civilized Planet", in which he outlines what weaponry would be permitted. Mind you, he thinks this will apply to the entire planet:

http://www.lightmillennium.org/2006_18th/arthur_c_clarke_civilized.html (yeah, it's looney webite...what a shock)

High-tech weapon systems are the crutches of impotent nations; nukes are just the decorative chromium plating. Let us see what crutches we can throw away, to walk proudly into a decent future.

The first criterion for civilized weaponry should be the total avoidance of collateral damage (to use another piece of mealymouthed Pentagonese, like friendly fire). In fact--don't laugh--no device that could kill more than the single person targeted should be permitted. A larger radius of action could be allowed only for instrumentalities that produced temporary disablement e.g., the "gas of peace" in H.G. Wells's Things to Come, acoustic or actinic bombs, water cannons, hypodermic guns, etc. Many more could be found if a fraction of the effort devoted to slaughtering people was spent devising ways of immobilizing them.

To deal with the sort of minor disturbances that may require police action even in the most utopian society, here are the minimum-force items that would be added to the above:

Nonlethal martial-arts devices, like quarterstaffs (Robin Hood had the right idea).

Genetically modified feline, canine, ursine, or simian aides, preferably in the five-hundred-kilogram class, playing the same role as today's guard dogs, but with higher IQs.

Passive defense robots (Robocop plus Asimov's three laws).

The permitted delivery systems for all these would include bicycles, scooters, jeeps, hovercraft, and helicopters.

So much for basic law and order. But for real emergencies, which will occasionally arise even in utopia, single-shot rifles and handguns could be issued, perhaps only under presidential orders...

And that's it.


TOPICS: Books/Literature; Society
KEYWORDS: banglist; clarke; guncontrol; sciencefiction
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-70 last
To: Abin Sur

Heheh...

Someone is reading between the lines, I see.


61 posted on 05/10/2011 5:44:49 PM PDT by The KG9 Kid
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: The KG9 Kid

Just covering all possibilities. Zathras does not want you being confused. Bye.


62 posted on 05/10/2011 6:59:45 PM PDT by tacticalogic
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: Abin Sur

Sortta exemplifies some inherent dicotomies in writers. Clarke was a major player in the development of radar circa WW2, then decided to pursue aquatic pursuits in the Western Indian Ocean. He continued to write authoring such stories as “20001, A Space Oddesy” and its sequals.

I’ve long suspected his choice of residence was strongly ifluenced by local mores, (or lack thereof) regarding his long-term homosexualo realtionship..... >PS


63 posted on 05/10/2011 7:07:23 PM PDT by PiperShade
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PiperShade
I’ve long suspected his choice of residence was strongly ifluenced by local mores, (or lack thereof) regarding his long-term homosexualo realtionship.....

Given the law in the UK at the time (1950s) it's understandable why he'd want to leave.

64 posted on 05/10/2011 8:05:18 PM PDT by Abin Sur
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: The KG9 Kid

We most likely agree on the comic book anime stuff.


65 posted on 05/10/2011 8:21:00 PM PDT by Professional Engineer (Conservative States of America has a nice ring to it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum
I never used the word “proclivities”. You are referring to another post made by somebody else, Einstein.

As for “drive-by character assassination”, apparently you're the expert there, since you don't even know what post you're replying to.

66 posted on 05/11/2011 11:46:54 AM PDT by ozzymandus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Abin Sur

I don’t recall when Clarke departed England. My gut says it was some later than you suggest.

I seem to recall Clarke did change his writing focus from “outer” space to “inner” space somewhere in the time frame you suggest. I recall he did author a “youth series” dealing with the sea starting around then. “Deep Range” is one title I recall.....

But Clarke’s pen/wit sdpanned a wide scope from humor to strict science to fantasy. His Tales of the White Hart are an exemplary diadem of the short mystery story; every one based upon strict science....Often containing a subtle pun in the titles. “The Defenstration of Ermintrude Smith” is an excellent example...... >PS


67 posted on 05/11/2011 6:48:13 PM PDT by PiperShade
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: Sherman Logan

Quite so. A shortstaff (6’) or longstaff (8’) is a fearsome tool. The renaissance masters, like Liechtenauer, regarded the staff as “the prince of weapons” and in the fechtbuchs it was the *last* weapon taught. A student would first achieve proficiency with the longsword, then sword and buckler, dagger, grappling... and _then_ they would learn the staff.

Used properly, a staff is not only deadly but can (given its reach) defeat someone with a sword. I have a few really nice hickory staves. Makes a great walking stick. :-)


68 posted on 05/11/2011 7:10:32 PM PDT by Ramius (Personally, I give us... one chance in three. More tea?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Abin Sur
A safe bet. He died 3 years ago.

I hadn't noticed...

the infowarrior

69 posted on 05/11/2011 8:49:45 PM PDT by infowarrior
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: PiperShade
I don’t recall when Clarke departed England. My gut says it was some later than you suggest.

He moved to Sri Lanka in 1956.

70 posted on 05/11/2011 9:57:58 PM PDT by Abin Sur
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-70 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson