# II explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Mack Reynolds.

## What happens

The expedition members debate the best method to industrialize the two planets, Genoa and Texcoco, within fifty years. Amschel Mayer proposes splitting the group to try both free competition and planned economy approaches. The discussion also explores why the original colonists' knowledge faded, with Plekhanov explaining the loss of technology over generations.

## Themes in this chapter

### Technology and Alienation

The crew's boredom and mental blankness during automated space travel highlight the alienation of advanced technology.

### Power and Corruption

The debate over planned vs. free economies reflects concerns about power structures and potential corruption in guiding societies.

### Historical Cycles

Plekhanov's explanation of how colonist knowledge fades over generations illustrates the cyclical loss of civilization.

## Character check-ins

### Joseph Chessman

Third in line in the expedition's hierarchy, participates in the debate and suggests leaving the Pedagogue in orbit.

### Amschel Mayer

Advocates free competition and proposes splitting the group to test both economic systems.

### Leonid Plekhanov

Argues for a planned, collectivized economy and chooses Texcoco for his group.

### Martin Gunther

Offers the example of Japan's industrialization under paternal guidance and questions the division of specialists.

### Natt Roberts

Worries about the loss of knowledge among colonists and the difficulty of handling two different ethnic periods.

### Jerome Kennedy

Relieves Chessman on watch and briefly discusses the ongoing debate.

### Steve Hackett

Referred to as Stevens; suggests focusing on Texcoco first, but is dismissed by Mayer.

## Key lines

> Actually, it seems to me the fastest industrialization comes under a paternal guidance from a more advanced culture. Take Japan. In 1854 she was opened to trade by Commodore Perry. In 1871 she abolished feudalism and encouraged by her own government and utilizing the most advanced techniques of a sympathetic West, she began to industrialize.

Gunther argues that rapid industrialization is best achieved under the guidance of a more advanced society, citing Japan's transformation after Perry's arrival.

_Gunther uses Japan as a historical example to support his view on paternalistic development._

> Why did the knowledge held by the original colonists melt away? How can an intelligent people lose such basics as the smelting of iron, gunpowder, the use of coal as a fuel?

Roberts questions how colonists could lose fundamental technologies like iron smelting and gunpowder.

_Roberts expresses confusion about the technological regression of the Rigel colonies._

> Very well, I am in favor of trying them both.

Mayer proposes testing both free competition and planned economy on the two planets simultaneously.

_Mayer's compromise splits the expedition to gather more data on industrialization methods._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_36_se/chapters/ii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_36_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_36_se/chapters