영어로 읽는 공상과학 소설 _ 알지스 버드리스의 야만인들
The Barbarians는 1950년대에 발표된 Algis Budrys의 SF 단편 소설이다. 이 작품은 문명과 야만이라는 이분법적 개념을 SF적 설정을 통해 해체하고 재해석한다. 소설은 미래 사회에서 '야만인'으로 규정된 집단과 '문명인' 사이의 갈등을 그리며, 진정한 문명의 의미와 인간성의 본질을 탐구한다. 특히 당시 냉전 시대의 '우리'와 '그들'이라는 이분법적 사고방식을 비판적으로 다루며, 문명이라는 이름으로 자행되는 폭력과 차별의 문제를 제기한다. 이 작품은 Budrys의 다른 작품들처럼 인간 사회의 편견과 선입견에 대한 날카로운 통찰을 보여준다.
Reading Science Fiction in English _ The Barbarians by Algis Budrys
The Barbarians is a science fiction short story by Algis Budrys published in the 1950s. This work deconstructs and reinterprets the dichotomous concepts of civilization and barbarism through a science fiction setting. The novel depicts the conflict between groups defined as 'barbarians' and 'civilized people' in a future society, and explores the meaning of true civilization and the essence of humanity. In particular, it critically addresses the dichotomous thinking of 'us' and 'them' during the Cold War, and raises the issue of violence and discrimination perpetrated in the name of civilization. Like other works by Budrys, this work shows keen insight into the prejudices and preconceptions of human society.
Summary
History was repeating itself; there were moats and nobles in Pennsylvania and vassals in Manhattan and the barbarian hordes were overrunning the land.
"The Barbarians" by Algis Budrys is a science fiction novel that appears to have been written in the mid-20th century. The narrative takes place in a post-apocalyptic America where remnants of nobility, barbarism, and armored warfare coexist in a society struggling to maintain order and identity amidst chaos. The likely topic of the book revolves around themes of betrayal, survival, and the complexities of human relationships within a fractured civilization. The story follows Giulion Geoffrey, a young nobleman who has just experienced a brutal battle against the invading barbarian forces, led by the enigmatic Hodd Savage, known as The Barbarian. Betrayed by his fellow nobleman, Harolde Dugald, during the battle, Geoffrey finds himself at the mercy of The Barbarian after surviving the clash. Together, they embark on a journey to reclaim Geoffrey's rightful lands while navigating the treacherous landscape filled with violence and shifting allegiances. As Geoffrey grapples with his family's legacy and confronts the harsh realities of power, he also develops an unexpected bond with The Barbarian and Myka, a woman he must help rescue. Ultimately, the story explores the intricate dynamics of nobility and barbarism, positionality in societal hierarchy, and the enduring nature of honor and survival in a chaotic world.
서평
Algis Budrys의 'The Barbarians'는 문명과 야만의 경계에 대한 통념을 날카롭게 해체하는 작품이다. 소위 '야만인'으로 규정된 집단을 통해 문명사회의 위선과 모순을 드러내며, 진정한 야만은 오히려 문명이라는 이름으로 자행되는 폭력과 차별에 있음을 보여준다. 특히 1950년대 냉전 시기의 이분법적 사고방식을 SF적 상상력으로 비판하면서, '타자화'의 메커니즘을 예리하게 포착한다. 작품은 문명의 이면에 숨겨진 폭력성을 드러내는 동시에, 진정한 인간성이란 무엇인가에 대한 근본적인 질문을 던진다. 단편임에도 불구하고 인류 문명의 본질적 모순을 효과적으로 파헤친 수작이다.
Book Review
Algis Budrys' 'The Barbarians' is a work that sharply dismantles the conventional wisdom about the boundary between civilization and barbarism. It exposes the hypocrisy and contradictions of civilized society through a group defined as the so-called 'barbarians', and shows that true barbarism lies in the violence and discrimination perpetrated in the name of civilization. In particular, it criticizes the dichotomous thinking of the Cold War era in the 1950s with science fiction imagination, and keenly captures the mechanism of 'otherization'. The work reveals the violence hidden behind civilization, while simultaneously asking the fundamental question of what true humanity is. Despite being a short story, it is a masterpiece that effectively delves into the essential contradictions of human civilization.
Algis Budrys는 1931년에 태어나 2008년에 사망한 리투아니아계 미국인 SF 작가이다. 본명은 Algirdas Jonas Budrys이며, SF 작가이자 편집자, 평론가로 활동했다. 그는 "Who?", "Rogue Moon", "Michaelmas" 등의 대표작을 남겼으며, 작품에서는 주로 정체성, 현실의 본질, 인간의 한계에 대한 철학적 주제를 다루었다. Writers of the Future 콘테스트의 조정자로 오랫동안 활동했으며, Tomorrow Speculative Fiction의 편집자로도 일했다. 또한 Galaxy와 같은 유명 SF 잡지에 평론을 기고하면서 1950년대부터 2000년대까지 SF 장르에서 중요한 영향력을 행사했다.
Budrys는 또한 영향력 있는 편집자이자 비평가였으며, 다양한 공상과학 잡지에서 일했고 이 장르에서 떠오르는 재능을 홍보했습니다. 그의 작품은 종종 철학적 주제와 인간의 상태를 탐구하여 공상과학 독자와 작가 모두에게 존경받는 인물이 되었습니다.
그의 작품들은 냉전 시대의 긴장감과 과학기술 발전이 인간성에 미치는 영향을 주로 탐구했으며, 2008년 일리노이 주 에반스턴에서 77세의 나이로 생을 마감했다.
Algis Budrys, born in 1931 and died in 2008, was a Lithuanian-American science fiction writer. His real name was Algirdas Jonas Budrys, and he worked as a science fiction writer, editor, and critic. His most famous works include "Who?", "Rogue Moon", and "Michaelmas", and his works mainly deal with philosophical themes such as identity, the nature of reality, and human limitations. He was a long-time moderator of the Writers of the Future contest and an editor of Tomorrow Speculative Fiction. He also contributed reviews to popular science fiction magazines such as Galaxy, exerting a significant influence on the genre from the 1950s to the 2000s. Budrys was also an influential editor and critic, working for various science fiction magazines and promoting emerging talent in the genre. His works often explored philosophical themes and the human condition, making him a respected figure for both science fiction readers and writers. His works explored the tensions of the Cold War and the impact of technological advancements on humanity, and he died in Evanston, Illinois, in 2008 at the age of 77.