2006-08-11
The Trigger
Author: Arthur C. Clarke and Micheal Kube-McDowell
I'm pretty sure the premise has been done before. What if we could make guns disappear? Instantaneously make for no more gun violence, and no more large-scale war? What would happen? The Trigger takes this thought, wraps it up in unobtrusive psuedo-science, and does a fair job of treating the topic seriously.
The authors pull off what is sadly a relatively uncommon accomplishment when they present multiple viewpoints fairly. There are reasonable arguments to be made about whether the Trigger device is good or bad for the world, and both liberal and conservative positions are presented with dignity. Extremists can be found on both ends, and it's easy to identify which characters are open-minded and which represent rare positions. Of course a work of fiction needs some tension, so the ultra-conservatives and ultra-liberals are given a little more air time than they deserve, but the authors maintain a decent perspective. I like finishing a book like this without feeling like all I learned was how the author votes.
I seem to spend a lot of time complaining about endings, so it was good to read a book with a good one. I guess some people would cry dues ex machina but I don't. I thought the resolution of the main story was fair, and the epilogue-like final chapter was a neat way to finish up with some ambiguity. The ending is recommended for any writers I can influence, and The Trigger in its entirety is recommended to anyone that can pick it up.
I'm pretty sure the premise has been done before. What if we could make guns disappear? Instantaneously make for no more gun violence, and no more large-scale war? What would happen? The Trigger takes this thought, wraps it up in unobtrusive psuedo-science, and does a fair job of treating the topic seriously.
The authors pull off what is sadly a relatively uncommon accomplishment when they present multiple viewpoints fairly. There are reasonable arguments to be made about whether the Trigger device is good or bad for the world, and both liberal and conservative positions are presented with dignity. Extremists can be found on both ends, and it's easy to identify which characters are open-minded and which represent rare positions. Of course a work of fiction needs some tension, so the ultra-conservatives and ultra-liberals are given a little more air time than they deserve, but the authors maintain a decent perspective. I like finishing a book like this without feeling like all I learned was how the author votes.
I seem to spend a lot of time complaining about endings, so it was good to read a book with a good one. I guess some people would cry dues ex machina but I don't. I thought the resolution of the main story was fair, and the epilogue-like final chapter was a neat way to finish up with some ambiguity. The ending is recommended for any writers I can influence, and The Trigger in its entirety is recommended to anyone that can pick it up.
