The Sixth Column is a science fiction novel [1] by Robert Heinlein , based on the story of John Campbell . First published in the journal Astounding Science Fiction (January, February and March issues of 1941 ) under the pseudonym Anson MacDonald , was later expanded and came out as a separate publication in 1949 [2] . The name refers to the concept of the " Fifth Column ." Since 1951, it has been published more than 20 times as “The Day After Tomorrow” [3] .
| Sixth column | |
|---|---|
| Sixth column | |
| Genre | novel |
| Author | Heinlein, Robert Anson |
| Original language | English |
| Date of first publication | Astounding Science Fiction , 1941 |
| Publishing house | |
Content
Contents
The novel, written on the eve of the war in the Pacific Ocean , is dedicated to the conquest of the United States by the Panasians - a single people uniting the Chinese and Japanese, whose empire has already captured all of Eurasia, including the USSR . The book edition was also associated with the concept of the “ yellow threat ”, as it coincided with the victory of the Communists in the Chinese Civil War.
The last outpost of the US Army remained a secret research center in the mountains of Colorado. Major Ardmore arrives there, who is to lead the resistance in the face of ongoing terror. Only 6 people remained in the laboratory - the rest died during the experiment with electromagnetic and gravitational fields. Since pan-Asians do not persecute religious organizations, Ardmore, with the help of scientists from the center, creates the pseudo-religion of God Motaa and begins active missionary activity ("parishioners" are well fed, they are not forced to accept religion, and cult hymns are performed on melodies of patriotic American songs). The discovery of transmutation allows the Ardmore team to have an unlimited amount of gold to buy food and bribe Pan-Asian officials. There is also an agent in the camp of the enemy - reconnaissance captain Downer, who underwent plastic surgery so that he looks like pan-Asian people. Thanks to the wave technologies discovered in the last days of the war, pan-Asian people cannot enter the temples of Motaa. The same radiation allows you to create a powerful weapon that will only hit panaziat. In the final, Professor Calhoun, obsessed with the idea of creating a dictatorship of scientists, goes crazy, but he succeeds in neutralizing - at the same time, Japanese American Frank Mitsui, who fought with the Pan-Asians who killed his entire family, died. The United States regains independence, and the governor of the Pan-Asian Empire committed suicide without waiting for trial.
Criticism
Heinlein wrote the novel based on the plot of J. Campbell - an unpublished story by All , and later stated that he did not consider the novel his creative luck, claiming that he was too racist [4] . Writer and critic George Zebrowski said that in the image of Calhoun, Heinlein spoiled Campbell himself [5] . In a review by Anthony Bucher and Francis McComas, it was said that the novel is “an excellent example of serious pulp literature ” [6] .
Notes
- ↑ In some sources it appears as a story
- ↑ James Gifford. The New Heinlein Opus List . Nitrosyncretic Press .
- ↑ List of publications “The Day After Tomorrow” at ISFDB
- ↑ Preface to the story “Solution Unsatisfactory” // Robert A. Heinlein, Expanded Universe. Ace Books, 1981, p. 93.
- ↑ The Space Beyond, Pyramid 1976, p. 284.
- ↑ Recommended Reading // The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction . February 1952, p. 105.
Links
- The Sixth Column on the Fantasy Laboratory website
- List of publications of Sixth Column at ISFDB