Posted on 09/16/2021 6:02:57 PM PDT by P.O.E.
Over the summer, picked out an old sci-fi anthology I had on the shelf.
The short story is reproduced at the link.
A recommended read.
My synopsis (no spoilers): In the future, a good citizen of the Empire takes up the cause against a weapons shop that appears in his quiet village.
I thought this book was called “The Weapon Shops of Isher.”🤷🏼♂️
I think that’s a novel later developed from the short story.
A E van Vogt set two novels in the ‘Isher’ universe, #1 was the extended version of this mid-length story & 2 subsequent Astounding SF stories, “The Weapon Shops of Isher” (1951) and it was followed by “The Weapon Makers”. A bit of super-science but no where near E E Smith in scope. When I read of his semi-antagonist, the Empress, I am strongly reminded of Elizabeth I.
I think that many of our FReepers would respond positively to his Slogan for the Weapon Shops; “The Right to Buy Weapons is the Right to be Free”!
I make reference to The Weapons Shops of Isher here regularly.
The right to buy weapons is the right to be free.
The weapon shop man had said: “Do not ridicule by word any legal measure of the Imperial authorities. Simply disobey them.”
SF Ping
“ I think that many of our FReepers would respond positively to his Slogan for the Weapon Shops; “The Right to Buy Weapons is the Right to be Free”! “
——————
Ya think?
Very interesting - thanks for sharing.
While the author’s name was familiar I have not had the pleasure of reading any of his works.
There’s something about the authors from the “golden age” of sci-fi (1940’s to late 1950’s), Asimov, Heinlein and even Ayn Rand to name a few, that stand apart from more modern works of the genera.
My other favorite quote is in post #7
I’ve never encountered one of your posts before. Awesome tag line!
That’s the quote that really resonated with me while reading the story.
“Simply disobey,,,”
.
Wise call.
Thanks.
BFL
L
Thanks. I thought the book - and more to the point the quote - was spot-on, that’s why it’s in my tagline...and the more time that passes, the more the actions of a lot of politicians reinforces the correctness of that quote.
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.