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What constitutes freedom?
01/05/2008 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 
A common theme used in Science Fiction is that of the oppressed fighting against tyranny often on a wider scale than a single country. Most SF tends to present the picture in black and white than shades of grey. At ground level in the 'Star Wars' films, the planets in the Empire don't seem that badly off, providing you don't annoy the stormtroopers or their nice Emperor or his henchman. Hello everyone
A common theme used in Science Fiction is that of the oppressed fighting against tyranny often on a wider scale than a single country. Most SF tends to present the picture in black and white than shades of grey. At ground level in the 'Star Wars' films, the planets in the Empire don't seem that badly off, providing you don't annoy the stormtroopers or their nice Emperor or his henchman, Darth whatever. Mind you, there are little things like destroying inhabited planets which would certainly fall into the category of war crimes, assuming, of course, that such a body existed to judge them in that reality. Where there is nothing but an Empire, what is said goes and justice is brutal on all sides.
Such tyrannical methods usually only last the length of time a leadership dynasty. Destroy that chain of command and from the chaos will come either better or worse leaders to fill the gap. Whether the replacements will do any better rarely gets investigated in fiction. Mostly cos that's where such stories end with the usual criteria being anything has to be better than the last leader. A galactic empire governed by a single ideology would probably not last long. One only has to look at human political state divergence on this planet to see it would be impractical. If this has been going on for some time if not generations, one has to consider would a people know what freedom is if it was handed to them on a plate or know what to do with it? There would still be a necessity to have some sort of ruling body just to avoid anarchy and new dictatorships with a desire to fill in the gap of the old regime.
Science Fiction unwittingly compares such changes of power to 'The Fall Of The Roman Empire' and forgets the deadly chaos that follows in the 'happy ever after' as order of some sort needs restoring. If anything, the restoration is often the real start of the story but I guess that hasn't got the same pizzazz or if it has, will follow similar patterns or re-organisation. Mind you, that's never stopped similar patterns happening in defeating tyrannical empires which SF is littered with. If anything, it probably shows a basic urge in the human reader for such material. Maybe as a reminder of what we have and what the alternative is. You can see a similar pattern with the many World War Two films being repeated on television so it obviously extends outside of our genre. Mind you, this mostly applies to the western world where we have won most of our wars. I doubt if countries in other parts of the world would see it in quite the same terms.
Any freedom is a multi-edged sword as it can vary from person to person as to what it means. How much freedom should you have before it's called a criminal act? Does it mean you can subjugate others to do what you tell them? Can you decide what is reasonable for other people? Would you be prepared to let others do so for you? How do you decide what is needed for a community of people to live together? In short, what is freedom?
Often with Science Fiction, which has tyrannical empires lasting centuries, any template for any order form of rule could either be lost or misinterpreted. Unless you were long-lived, you wouldn't have a clue about the template but have an acceptance of absolute rule. Things would have to be worked out from scratch or at least define rules that are practical necessity. There are never any easy answers which often ends up with yet more wars as to decide whose authority is best. Yet winning by might alone is never enough. If anything, it can only get worse before it gets better. Indeed, it also risks setting up even more tyrannical kingdoms before some sort of democracy or other political system comes to the fore where leaders are answerable to their people and don't stay in office for a life-time. The important lesson here is a political system needs an agreement from all if it is to work.
If anything, when dealing with the rights of a population, it makes more sense to have a few voices chosen to represent and making decisions that affect all then a mass that can't decide anything. It might be subject to abuse but with a turnover of people, it can also ensure that everyone gets some sort of freedom and where needed, to change. Democracy is far from perfect but it is flexible for change and growth.
Yet it all falls down to that little word 'freedom' of which no one really has a clear definition. Well, some times. Usually it works off the principle of doing what you like providing it doesn't hurt anyone else, although even that can be eroded around the edges simply because some people can flout the system and get away with it. When it comes to leading a nation of people, it becomes impossible to do everything for everyone or at least not all at one go. At most it ends up as being something beneficial than oppressive. One has to hope that some consideration is given to the vulnerable: the young, sick and elderly. Respect and protection for them will mean a suitable safety net for either sides of your working life. You would think and yet some countries don't apply it very well which again raises the question as to what makes 'freedom' let alone how can it be governed successfully.
One can only look on and recognise 'freedom' when you know what it is compared to those who have relative less 'freedom'. Maybe it needs a level of sanity as well as recognising when there are some times fighting for freedom can end up being the only way when all other options have failed. A lot of wars have been over territory, religion and ideology for this reason. Analysing that, I have to think that both religion and ideology are actually territories of the mind. The battle of ideology is something we face today with al-Qaeda's actions. China's domination of Tibet is a combination of territory and ideology using might to control rather than compromise. There are no winners. Sadly, there are many losers. If anything, 'freedom' is a goal to aim for than think it will ever be perfect.
It is for that reason that a utopian society is never likely to happen. Well, not unless you're planning a trip to Shangri-La where extended life results in lack of activity and a desire not to do very much. Mankind, if anything, is curious as to what is around the next corner and, hopefully, determined to get there to find out. If anything, that's the one saving grace of the species.
The world is never likely to replace tyranny forever but there is a need to remind every country that with the right of control comes the need to give its citizens some measure of freedom in individual decision making providing they do little harm to others. Oppression is never a victory. Only knowledge that a tyranny will one day fail often is the only thing that keeps the oppressed fighting.
Freedom goes hand in hand with self-control and responsibility. I was tempted to say treat others as you would treat yourself but there is no real criteria on this with each generation and some people treat being horrible to others as being perfectly natural. There needs to be a base-line as to what is acceptable behaviour. Without any of this we are unlikely to ever be called civilised and the world will be all the worse for it. Without that, 'freedom' is simply a word not a right.
Thank you, take care, good night and be safe
Geoff Willmetts
editor: SFCrowsnest.com
A real Zen thought:Making mistakes is a way of reminding ourselves we are not perfect.
Another real Zen thought:If revenge is better served cold doesn't it make it a pre-mediated crime to do otherwise?
A thought to ponder: Do you suppose the Predators come down to Earth to get gun lessons from the Americans?
Another thought to ponder:With iPod and MP3 players being offered with the capability to hold one million tunes has anyone considered the idea that they think human longevity is going to extend that long to hear them all or maybe one device is all that is needed for the world?
Another real Zen thought but this time for potential writers: If you can express an opinion independently of others and aren't likely to bend to the masses then you might show potential as a writer.
Zen for those who are scared by all the instructions below: Many of the instructions are things you should be doing automatically if you're developing your writing skills. If you do them already then focus on the ones that you don't get right. They are there to help you as much as me to get the best writing from you. If you think you're 80% there then I'll help you get the final 20%. Trust me, I'm an editor and I can get things right.
BOOK REVIEWS
Do you love books?
Do you like curling up and reading a book?
Do you have a preference for fantasy, SF or horror?
Do you find it the greatest pastime you have next to being on your computer?
Are you very vocal about what you like and don't like in what you read?
Would you like to share your thoughts with others about books?
Would you like an endless supply of books to do this with?
Do you live in the UK?
If you've been nodding your head up to this point then link in below and see if you have what it takes to be a reviewer at SFCrowsnest. If you have that special knack to read and write or want to develop said skill then the only way you're going to find out is to take the plunge yourself rather than wait for others to do it first. Reading a lot of books is a requisite for any writer. Being able to say what makes them good or bad hones your own skills. It's got to be better than waiting for the sun to come out as the winter draws near. It's also amazing how much you can read in an hour a day.
If you've survived this far in the editorial, let me reiterate something from the website newsletter and the above editorial. As you can see from the main page, we have one of the biggest SF/fantasy/horror monthly reviews columns on the Net. Our success has increased the number of books that comes in and our policy is to read everything and give it a roadtest before giving a review so you have some idea of what you're letting yourself in for. You want the bottom line about what you're going to choose to read. That means we need people actually willing to read the book and tell others they're opinion in reviews. For that, we're always on the outlook for more reviewers.
Do you think you have what it takes to review a book? It's a skill that can be easily mastered and we need a few more. If you love fantasy, we have more than enough to keep you busy for instance.
Apart from the ability to put words into sentences, you also need to know how to précis, do a little research on associated subjects and can express opinions constructively about the good and bad points about the books you read. We even let you choose from our pile of received books rather than foster something on you that you wouldn't normally read. You'll even get a little editorial help in how to write good copy and that can always lead to other things. I'm not as scary as I sound editorially and its better to do the test review and see how you fare than not attempt to see how well you did. I did say you have to love books and willing to read beyond your favourite authors, didn't I?
If you like reading books in the genre and can average two or three a month, can really think and show you can write a decent review and, most importantly, live in the British Isles (sorry, expense, time and distance travelled mostly prohibits elsewhere), then use the link below and see our requirements. We can't pay you but a review for the price and regular supply of new books, this has to be a good incentive to see if you have what it takes.
Do you think you're up to writing a review? If you think you can, then you're really going to think you've landed your hands in the biscuit tin. It won't hurt to try and see if you have the right stuff by sending me a sample review to show me you can write. If you want an added incentive, it can also be good for your CV.
Look up the Review Guidelines by linking here: with a press of a mouse button.
SHORT STORY SLUSH PILE
We always have an interest in short stories which can be anything from one to thirty or so pages long. We're always willing to give short story writers a chance to be seen if they can withstand my scrutiny even if we can't pay for their efforts, your material will be seen by a lot of people. If you can get a short story written well then it'll make it easier to move up to novel-length.
Look up the Short Stories Link by linking here with your mouse.
FLASH OR ONE-PAGE FICTION
We've also a teaching ground of one page stories, so check out the rules elsewhere on the website. It's far too easy to just write and write and hope something good comes out of it. What writing a one page story does is test your ability to control your word count and still tell a story in a concise way. This doesn't mean we don't accept stories of different lengths - a short story can be anything up to 30-40 pages long after all - but opens up the means for really short stories from ideas that don't need as much space.
Flash fiction stories by linking here: with your mouse.
NOVEL-LENGTH SAMPLES IN THE FIRST INSTANCE
For those keeping track, I'm actually now caught up but don't tell everyone as I'm undecided as to whether to keep looking at novel-length story samples, move over specifically to short stories - which we do anyway for the website - or get a couple of my own book projects completed. The latter, I still intend to do anyway.
There might not be much of a wait unless I get a deluge, however those sending in ebook samples, please read the Guidelines by linking here with your mouse here or through the bottom line menu on the opening page of the SFC website.
They are there to help you do some of the right things and reduce the number of times I'm repeating myself over silly grammatical errors and spelling mistakes that you shouldn't be making if you're serious about becoming a writer. It makes editing a lot easier if any editor has less work pointing out poor English which you should have been sorted out in the first place and more focused on other areas of your work that deal with plot and the other serious elements of storywriting. As a writer, it is your command of the English language and its grammar that will show how serious you are about writing.
EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT WRITING BUT AFRAID TO ASK
General advice for those who want to become writers of any sort: There's an old editorial adage, if you can't aim for perfection why should an editor nurse-maid you to that state? Nominally, my job is to catch minor glitches not total mishaps. If you're a writer, then you should understand the words, sentences and grammar of the job you're supposed to be writing or are you considering it as mundane and boring as any other job to get right? Fall in love with making every sentence the best you're ever written, read up and understand the rules of grammar. Put the time in researching any subject you're using in the story. Be prepared to put a story away for a few weeks and go back to it for a self-edit. Even I do that. You look good. I make you look better but you have to start off with good.
A lot of the time, errors will just stare you in the face when you didn't see them the first time round. Once you know where your weaknesses are, they can be sorted out and allow you to move a little higher up the ladder towards making your material look its best and more importantly, getting your material seen by readers.
The link here will show you the Common Problems Link page and what I see mostly with your mouse. It's the smart writer who doesn't get caught out with these.
Good luck. Geoff
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