2000, nyrn, NY, 12 pages

I have read many an introduction to a classic author’s work. In most cases they are dreadfully longwinded minutia-bound exercises in passive-aggressive aspiration. On the other hand, Bruce Sterling has written a model of what an introduction to an important fiction writer of an earlier period should be.

Ernst Junger was born to a chemist and pharmacist in 1895, and lived until 1998. He saw his nation fall four times, twice in apocalyptic flames. He fought as a storm-trooper in World War I, being wounded 14 times! He was a man that was ‘right’ for war, but regretted it none-the-less. He defied Hitler and The Allies, and later horrified the German science-fiction community with his outrageously anachronistic near future, loosely based on post World War II Europe.

As a sci-fi writer himself Bruce Sterling is on point through the entire introduction, avoiding a cliff note-like breakdown of the story such as those often offered by anthology editors and academics.

Here are a few brief passages from this prescient review of a genius’ work:

“…its Olympian disdain for the mere exigencies of time.”

“Junger understands that technology is pursued not to accelerate progress but to intensify power.”

“…these veterans will not surrender their sangfroid. Even in moral free fall, jumping through the windows of a flaming civilization, they just soar on and on.”

“Ernst Junger, gentleman poet and soldier, must have been, in many ways, a very scary man.”

I will be looking for some fiction by Mister Sterling.