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''The Prince'' is a science fiction compilation by Jerry Pournelle and S. M. Stirling. It is part of the CoDominium future history series. ''The Prince'' is a compilation of four previously published novels: ''Falkenberg's Legion'', ''Prince of Mercenaries'', ''Go Tell The Spartans'', and ''Prince of Sparta''. Of the original novels, the first two were written by Pournelle alone; the last two were cowrittten with Stirling. Pages 173-176 of the printed edition are new to the compilation.〔(Falkenberg Chronology )〕 ''The Prince'' was published by Baen Books in hardcover (ISBN 0-7434-3556-7) in September 2002. The title and subject matter of the book are inspired by ''The Prince'' by Niccolò Machiavelli. ==Background== The CoDominium is a formal alliance between the United States and the Soviet Union which holds power over Earth, with a cynically hegemonistic policy toward all the other nations of Earth and Earth's off-world colonies. The action occurs over a period from the 2060s to the 2090s in the CoDominium universe. Humanity has interstellar flight (the Alderson Drive) and has settled many planets outside the Solar System, simply moving in and setting up shop on some, terraforming others with a not-specified Terraforming Package that transforms an alien world into a planet that supports all Terran life forms, from bacteria to plants to animals to humans. A recurring theme through the stories is the result of the CoDominium’s policy of shipping large numbers of voluntary and involuntary colonists from Earth to the colony planets. The involuntary colonists cause much trouble, knowing nothing but a welfare state existence in government ghettoes (''Welfare Islands''), where drugs, booze and entertainment, paid for by the productive members of society ("Taxpayers"), keep them pacified. Shanghaied to the colony worlds by the Bureau of Relocation ("BuReLock") in an attempt to keep Earth's population down, they gather in city centers and shanty towns, reverting to their parasitical or criminal lifestyles depending on their personal inclinations. While some convict and involuntary transportees do assimilate into their new planets' societies, most band together against the original colonists of whatever world they end up on. Political parties always form to demand a consumer-oriented welfare state, ostensibly to promote social fairness but with agendas meant to advance the welfare state at the expense of the productive. The welfare state demanded by the influx of Terrans from the Welfare Islands who do not have the concept of "work" in their mental universes requires cheap energy, consumer industry, and an unrealistically large tax base. Even without explicit knowledge of the agenda of the socialists, the productive members of each planet's society are outraged by encroachments and banditry forcing them to yield lands or businesses which they have worked hard to establish. Pournelle pays attention to the soldier′s dilemma of being expected to obey orders without regard to the consequences to the people of the colony planets. Pournelle repeatedly discusses the resentment of the CoDominiumNavy and Line Marines used to subdue local defiance of CoDominium rule to garner fortunes for Senator Bronson, other Grand Senators, their cronies, and multinational corporations without the opportunity of "leaving things in working order." These stories may also illustrate Pournelle′s own convictions (''see'' Jerry Pournelle#Politics), which echo those of Robert A. Heinlein, such as democracy is not the only proper form of government; and indeed may not always be the best, given the realities of economics and ecology. In each of the stories, those on the side of rapid industrial development (to the benefit of the Establishment) are seen to be likely to lead their societies towards anarchy or industrial feudalism. The results of Falkenberg′s actions are sometimes little better in moral terms, but his actions often prevent the descent into barbarism Bronson's policies would otherwise cause. Falkenberg's Mercenary Legion is a force in opposition to the policies of Earth's politicians, the Humanity League, and the socialists. Working with Grand Admiral Lermontov, the admiral in command of the CoDominium Space Navy, the Legion acts to suppress the bandits, rebels and insurgents who prey on landowners, and works against corrupt politicians bent on exploiting natural resources on the newly settled planets with very little benefit to the people living on the new planets. The saga relates the progress of John Christian Falkenberg from a junior officer in the Line Marines of the CoDominium Navy to a senior Marine colonel. Forced out of the CoDominium Line Marines on a technicality, Falkenberg is a military genius with a flair for the bold and unconventional, often resorting to deception to win battles. The core of Falkenberg's Mercenary Legion is composed of officers and NCOs from the 42nd Line Marine Regiment commanded by Falkenberg before budget cuts caused the regiment to be disestablished, and recruits enlisted from planets on which the Legion fights. Falkenberg's rise through the officer ranks of the CoDominium military and the growth of the Legion's reputation is paired with the decline and fall of the CoDominium. John Christian has a powerful enemy in Grand Senator Adrian Bronson of Earth, who blames him for the death of his grandson and heir while under Falkenberg′s command. Bronson also opposes Grand Admiral Sergei Lermontov, Falkenberg′s mentor and chief of the CoDominium Navy, whose goal is to preserve civilization and freedom within the CoDominium's sphere of influence. The weapons and tactics employed are easily recognizable to the modern reader. In Pournelle′s future universe, scientific and technical advances with military implications (which turn out to be virtually all scientific and technical advances) are ruthlessly suppressed by the CoDominium which controls Earth. Also, the expense of importing advanced technology means that cheaper, less advanced alternatives are common. The mule or the horse is a better vehicle than the truck on a colony world, while a tank or two might be the deciding factor in a campaign. The weapons used by planetary forces and the mercenary units are rifles, machine guns, grenades, mortars and light artillery. A few helicopters are available, but in most situations are vulnerable to man-portable antiaircraft missiles. Unlike the present-day state of military art, it is rare that helicopters can be used as aerial fighting vehicles. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「The Prince (anthology)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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