While in Korea, Linebarger masterminded the surrender of thousands of Chinese troops who considered it shameful to give up their arms. He drafted leaflets explaining how the soldiers could surrender by shouting the Chinese words for “love” “duty” “humanity” and “virtue” – words, that happened, when pronounced in that order, to sound like “I surrender” in English. He considered this act to be the single most worthwhile thing he had done in his life.
Cordwainer Smith was the pseudonym of Dr Paul Linebarger and he lived an extraordinary life. As well as having a distinguished career in the army, writing the text on psychological warfare, he was also an advisor to Kennedy and wrote the most amazing science fiction. I picked up a copy of the Rediscovered Man from Fopp yesterday and instantly i was hooked. I have included the quotation from the preface because it both amazed me and shocked me out of the unfocused listlessness i’ve been in of late.
{ 09 12 2003 }
10-Dec-03 at 5:33 pm | Permalink
Site run by his daughter here. Always on the lookout for good SF, recommended then dave?