# XX: Destruction explained — Invaders from the Infinite

> Chapter companion for Invaders from the Infinite by John W. Campbell.

## What happens

Arcot receives a message from Zezdon Fentes revealing that Thett's base is near the center of the galaxy. The crew names their ship 'Thought' and travels to Ortol, where they find Thett's messengers have arrived. A bizarre battle ensues as Arcot, influenced by Zezdon Fentes' mental mediumship, projects the Thessians' own horror-ideas against them, causing chaos and destruction among the Thessian fleet.

## Themes in this chapter

### The Nature of Power and Responsibility

Arcot's use of mental horror-ideas demonstrates the immense power of thought and the responsibility required to wield it, as seen when the crew names their ship 'Thought' and Arcot later questions his own actions.

### Unity Against a Common Enemy

The alliance of Earth, Ortol, and Talso works together to locate and confront Thett's forces, highlighting cooperation against a shared threat.

### Exploration and the Unknown

The crew ventures to the center of the galaxy to find Thett's base, facing unknown horrors and using innovative tactics to overcome them.

## Character check-ins

### Arcot

Receives message from Zezdon Fentes, names the ship 'Thought', and uses mental horror-ideas to defeat the Thessians.

### Zezdon Fentes

Discovers Thett's base location and acts as a medium, imprinting Thessian horror-ideas onto Arcot's mind.

### Morey

Comments on the mental power of the Thessians and participates in naming the ship.

### Wade

Suggests christening the ship 'Thought' with its name emblazoned on it.

### Torlos

Asks about the name of the machine, prompting the naming discussion.

### Zezdon Afthen

Reassures the crew about Thessian mental abilities and suggests sending Fentes down in a shell.

## Key lines

> The swiftest thing that ever was Thought ! The most irresistible thing, thought , for nothing can stop its progress. The most destructive thing, thought . Thought, the greatest constructor, the greatest destroyer, the product of mind, and producer of powers, the greatest of powers. Thought is controlled by the mind. Let us call it Thought !

Arcot proposes naming the ship 'Thought' because it embodies the swiftness, irresistibility, and dual creative-destructive power of the mind.

_This moment emphasizes the theme of the nature of power and responsibility, as the crew acknowledges the immense potential of their vessel._

> Lord, Arcot! Why in the Universe did you do that⁠—and how did you conceive those horrors?

Morey asks Arcot why he used such terrifying mental projections and how he imagined them.

_This highlights Arcot's unconscious use of the Thessians' own fears, facilitated by Zezdon Fentes' mental mediumship._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/invaders_from_the_infinite_se/chapters/xx-destruction
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/invaders_from_the_infinite_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/invaders_from_the_infinite_se/chapters