tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-719141367222154597.post1177001775703690987..comments2024-03-15T02:45:11.640-07:00Comments on Book Reviews: THE TULORIAD (John Ringo/Tom Kratman)Chris Nuttallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11169777329446932697noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-719141367222154597.post-82374813545407565992012-08-15T17:21:37.165-07:002012-08-15T17:21:37.165-07:00Why is it that the Guanamarioch Posleen family uni...Why is it that the Guanamarioch Posleen family unit is presented as no different from human, mute female notwithstanding ( Trautman being lazy is how that character was worked in ) complete with our speech pattern and belief structure? Complete assimilation is a huge step over a very short period of time and large assumption besides.<br /><br />I do not agree that this is Trautman's best work to date. It's just not his worst. Watch on the Rhine, that's his worst hands down.<br /><br />Let's now turn to the Lepanto claim in the afterword, which is an argument as specious as it is laughable as an example of Divine Intercession.<br /><br />According to wikipedia, the two fleets were near equal in strength: Christian command was divided, Ottoman was a single supreme commander who also relegated to subordinates. The six galleasses towed into battle actually accounted for the sinking or capturing of 70 ( SEVENTY! ) Turkish ships--didn't need the divine waterspout for that to happen.<br /><br />The Turks employed galley slaves to propel their ships, the Christians used free men. I think the Christians have the advantage there. Plus about 7000 Christian slaves were involved. These guys just might have been rooting for the other side, don't cha think?<br /><br />The Ottomans had Janissaries, the Christians levies of troops from several nations, but significantly over 2000 Spanish troops under a single commander. The preponderance of artillery was also with the Christians: over 200 guns to 170 for the Turk. I'm still not getting any impression of the miraculous here.<br /><br />After the battle Turkish aims in the Mediterranean were thwarted, but the Turks were not finished as a seapower as Trautman maintains. The Empire rebuilt its navy to larger than it was before--they just didn't have the personnel to adequately man those ships. The Turk continued to threaten Christian interests in the Med for over a century.<br /><br />As for Pope Pius V's remarkable forecast of the outcome of the battle, isn't it reasonable to assume that in order to calm the masses at home Pius put forth a large white lie so there shouldn't be riots in the streets? I'm thinking it's wishful thinking on Trautman's part here assuming divine revelation. Plenty of popes have demonstrated dishonest and self-serving behavior throughout history. One need look no further than the current pope to witness proof of that assertion.<br /><br />Trautman says: '...never go to a religious war without religion. You'll lose.'<br /><br />Tell that to the Atheist Communist Russians who defeated the Christian Fascist Germans in WW II.<br /><br />Humans have a predilection to belief. Yeah, so what? Neanderthals were believing in forest spirits way before JC got nailed to his cross. What's your point, Trautman?<br /><br />It is the method of the religious to present one argument with specious reasoning and ignore everything else, especially the facts. I think authors who indulge in beating drums for their own causes should take up some other vocation.<br /><br />I am Bright #1,000,001Bright #1000001noreply@blogger.com