In Dr. Gregory Benford’s novel The Stars in Shroud, the Quarm virus has reached the planet Veden. Unlike other human-settled worlds, where the psychological disease has caused the infected to withdraw from society, here it provokes mob violence in the peaceful Hindic culture. After combating the latest such incident, Ling, as Fleet Commander, discusses the growing problem with his executive officers Majumbdahr and Gharma.
Ling’s first quandary concerns how much of their current trials he should report to Earth. Gharma wonders if they should underreport the increasing violence. Perhaps Veden culture isn’t falling apart as rapidly as they believe. But Ling opts for honesty, even if this causes his superiors back on Earth to look down on him. He tells Gharma, “Half-truths are dangerous; sooner or later you might inadvertently tell the wrong half.”
Next, Ling must determine what steps they should take to counteract the growing violence, while at the same time how to best care for those who have contracted the plague. Gharma has resisted Earth’s recommendation that the new hospitals being built should include areas of close-packed Slots, such as Ling and his family lived in back on Earth when the plague had made them unable to interact with society. Ling agrees with Gharma. Such structures suggest capitulation to the inevitable: they would only provoke depression in those fighting the dispiriting plague. Majumbdahr suggests that they stop building rural retreats to speed the hospitals’ completion. Ling disagrees. “Vedens are country folk,” he says. “Maybe they’ll snap out of it if we get enough out of the cities.”
Ultimately, they must find a solution to the plague. A remedy for the people of Veden, with adjustments for societal differences, could heal those suffering back on Earth, as well as on all other human-settled worlds. The Vedens are very religious, so Gharma and Majumbdahr suggest a religious cure: a new sect is steadily growing in converts and influence. Ling sighs. “There are a thousand cultists every square block in this city. I seem to have met every one of them. “ Gharma believes there’s something special about this group, and Majumbdhar adds that they maintain a compound near the jungle and the farms, where they seem unaffected by the violence in the cities.
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| A hero never gives up. |
Life throws so many stressors at us: we don’t need alien viruses to grow frustrated, angry, or depressed from all the problems we face. Sometimes, it can seem as though you’ve exhausted every potential avenue in finding a solution. It would be so easy for Ling to give up on finding a remedy to the Quarm virus in religion. But the physical laws of the universe, such as action and reaction, suggest that for every problem, a solution must exist. In Ling’s case, his personal fate is tied with that of Veden. His family on Earth still suffers from the plague. Also, the plague has robbed humanity of the ability to practice the ritual of Sabal. Perhaps this new cult can offer a solution to the void Ling feels, as well as prove an antidote to the alien virus that has ravaged humanity.
To paraphrase one of the themes from Connie Willis’ favorite Christmas movie, “Miracle on 34th Street,” faith is irrational. It goes against common sense. But just as the characters in that movie combat rationality with their belief in the existence of Santa Claus, an exhausted Ling agrees to investigate “yet another cult.” In doing so, he encourages me to battle against everyday problems, as well as to believe that if I continue working toward the eventual completion of my manuscript, eventually I will sell my novel to a publisher. Ling acts on his innate faith that a solution to his (and society’s) problem must exist. I can only seek to emulate his persistence and faith. Embodying such virtues may not insure success, but I have trouble believing that I will accomplish my goals without them.
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| Faith and Persistence have their rewards. |
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