# Ultima Thule explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Mack Reynolds.

## What happens

Ronny Bronston returns to Earth disillusioned after discovering that the elusive revolutionary Tommy Paine is actually a front for Section G, the organization he works for. Commissioner Metaxa and Sid Jakes explain the true purpose of Section G: to secretly guide the social evolution of member planets, nudging them toward progress while maintaining the fiction of Tommy Paine to justify their interventions. Ronny is paired with Tog Lee Chang Chu for his first real assignment and ultimately accepts his role, requesting to work with her.

## Themes in this chapter

### Power and Corruption

Section G's secret manipulation of planetary societies for their own ends, justified as necessary progress, raises questions about the ethics of such power.

### Rebellion and Revolution

The Tommy Paine fiction is a tool for controlled revolution; the chapter discusses the fear of subversion and the need to manage change.

### Historical Cycles

Metaxa describes the ladder of social evolution from savagery to civilization, suggesting that progress is cyclical and never-ending.

## Character check-ins

### Ronny Bronston

Returns to Earth disillusioned after discovering the truth about Tommy Paine; confronts Metaxa and Jakes; accepts his role in Section G.

### Ross Metaxa

Commissioner who explains the purpose of Section G and the Tommy Paine fiction; authorizes Ronny's silver badge.

### Sid Jakes

Section G supervisor who reveals the truth about Tommy Paine and pairs Ronny with Tog Lee Chang Chu.

### Lee Chang Chu

Tog who first sent Ronny on the Tommy Paine assignment; later assigned as Ronny's partner.

### Irene Kasansky

Commissioner Metaxa's secretary who handles Ronny's gun and appointment.

## Key lines

> If I say, it seems to me democracy is a good thing, you give me an argument about the superiority of rule by an elite. If I say anarchism is ridiculous, you dredge up an opinion that it's man's highest ethic.

Ronny accuses Lee Chang of always taking the opposite view, no matter what he says.

_Ronny expresses his frustration with the constant contradictions he encounters._

> All that had been gold, was suddenly gilted lead. The dream had become contemptuous nightmare.

Ronny's idealistic vision of the United Planets has been shattered by the truth.

_Ronny's disillusionment upon learning the reality behind Section G._

> Our job is to keep our member planets from being afraid of each other.

Section G's role is to prevent interplanetary fear and conflict.

_Metaxa explains the core mission of Section G._

> We don't know, perhaps there is none. Perhaps there is always another rung on this evolutionary ladder.

Metaxa admits that the ultimate goal of social evolution is unknown and may be infinite.

_The chapter's title 'Ultima Thule' refers to this unknown final destination._

## Links

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