There’s a very interesting essay at SpeculativeInsights called Lives under Empire, which looks at the politics of forever wars.
“The novella Lives under Empire by Premee Mohamed, two novelettes (“The Weight of What is Hollow” and “Forsaking All Others”), and the short story “The General’s Turn” each follow different subjects of the Treotan Empire, a militant dictatorship that has grown habituated to unceasingly waging imperial wars. This format gives Mohamed ample space in which to illustrate the impact of unceasing warfare on the daily lives of imperial subjects. The depth of each story also allows protagonists from diverse walks of life to ponder their relationship with the regime—and whether this relationship needs to change, and at what cost.”
— https://www.speculativeinsight.com/essays/lives-under-empire
I wonder if this essay by Eric de Roulet might lead to an interesting discussion at Critical Mass about dealing with Empire in the real world?
Jeff Harris has suggested another article on empire: I suggest reading the discussion of empires in science-fiction (see link below) is not only clearer and more readable, but relief from “lives under empire”‘s plodding quasi-academic style.
https://reactormag.com/side-eyeing-science-fictions-love-of-empire/
So for the Critical Mass meeting on February 18th at the Minor Works Building
(There’s a wide path between 50 and 52 Sturt Street which will take you to the Minor Works Building)
(A) We shall discuss the two articles on empire
and then (B) we each discuss a work of interest for 5 minutes — either an old SF work worth reading (pre 1980), or a new work which has impressed you (post 2020).
Critical mass Zoom meeting.
Time: Feb 18, 2026 6:30pm Adelaide / 7pm Melbourne / 10am London
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84725647281?pwd=xOiFBfqxjaYVhDgYZxs1Ac5WeG5889.1
Meeting ID: 847 2564 7281
Passcode: 805107
The Adelaide Fan Review 