Injustice Book Review: The Missionairies

Cower not, fierce reader!  We have before us another tale to cause the leftist to cower and quake.  If you haven't figured it out, yes, I'm a fan of Castalia House.  No, I don't work for them.  No, I don't volunteer for them.  They happen to publish a lot of books I like.

Now, for the crimes against Social Justice:

First, we have in place a government at the start that is concerned with trying to maintain a relative peace, rather than advancing the people into the modern world. This comes from the experience that tells them the locals don't think logically, and likely can't entirely.  These practical men are not acceptable to the UN envoy taking over.

Second, air conditioning is apparently racist according to the UN. This is among many bad assumptions made by UN officials, who have a lot of politically correct learning, but no experience. A refusal to believe other than primitive peoples are peaceful if left to their own devices, and without superstition. By the way, there's no effort to understand to locals on the UN's behalf, just make them do things that are incomprehensible by their view.

Thirdly, we have a portrayal of a primitive, magic-based worldview that is trying to incorporate the things brought by the UN.   Outhouses are accepted as a transformative object, that is, they turn excrement into wealth.  It is seen as selfish to deny wealth to the village.  Toy cars get planted, so that they can grow into full size treasures.


Now, most of the book is variations on the ignorance and incompetence of the UN, the superstitions and views of the  tribes, and the practical actions the previous government that's been kept on take.. It makes for a highly entertaining story, honestly, and even the practical men are shown as highly flawed. Faith is portrayed in one spot, and at least the missionaries shown are clearly not normal for Christians.  The UN's ignorance as to the transformative nature of faith is a good point, obliquely made. Overall, 7 of 10 fell deeds.

I am oversimplifying some things, but I am likely in the minority of reviewers this book has had.  I like CH's other fiction better.  Not that this wasn't good and entertaining, but Hyperspace Demons left me wanting more.  I felt that John C. Wright's last two novels were better, and many of his shorter works as well.  To each his own, especially when we aren't against each other.

When you play Social Justice, the world loses.