Scan barcode
A review by andrewspink
Pellucidar by Edgar Rice Burroughs
1.0
Science fiction is of course not really about the future but about contemporary society. This book, written 100 years ago is clearly about colonialism. The fascinating and somewhat horrifying thing is that this is a novel glorifying colonialism, presenting it as something necessary and good for.the "savages" (a recurring word in the book). The outsiders with their guns and their ships are clearly destined to dominate and subdue them and this is a Good Thing.
It is not a good idea to judge the morals of one era by those of another. Neverthless this is close enough to our own time that we know there were enough alternative voices at the time who were also clear about colonialism's evils that that a bit of judgementalism isn't such a bad idea here. Who to side with, Rhodes or Ghandi?
It is not a good idea to judge the morals of one era by those of another. Neverthless this is close enough to our own time that we know there were enough alternative voices at the time who were also clear about colonialism's evils that that a bit of judgementalism isn't such a bad idea here. Who to side with, Rhodes or Ghandi?