The Catholic Book Club discussion

5. Is the ending satisfying?

Well in my case the ending is totally satisfyng, especially the epilogue, where Manuel Alfonseca spoke about science fiction alternate story. In my opinion although is very dificult to choose a literary genre is a christian allegory.

I agree that the ending was satisfactory. My only criticism is the idea that after Napoleon winning Waterloo and an invasion of the zombie army, history reverts back to its previous course. That seems a deterministic, almost Marxist, view of history. It might have been interesting to think about a resulting change that leads to the eventual non-happening of WWI. Or something along those lines.

John wrote: "I agree that the ending was satisfactory. My only criticism is the idea that after Napoleon winning Waterloo and an invasion of the zombie army, history reverts back to its previous course. That se..."

You are right, of course, but I had two reasons not to go into that line of thought:

1. I actually believe that history is more resilient than it appears from all those science-fiction novels on time travel and changing of the past. As in Poul Anderson's "Delenda Est," where the murder of Scipio by a time-traveller in the Tesino battle against Hannibal gives rise to a future where Rome has been replaced by Carthage. Perhaps my case was a little extreme, and in practice (if it were possible:-) things would not go on the same, but...

2. If my novel had followed the line you propose, it would probably have been twice as long. I was not prepared for that...

Manuel wrote: "John wrote: "I agree that the ending was satisfactory. My only criticism is the idea that after Napoleon winning Waterloo and an invasion of the zombie army, history reverts back to its previous co..."

In my case i totally agree with Alfonseca in one. It had not changed anything, that Napoleon had won the battle of Waterloo, because although Napoleon had won in Waterloo. Europe would have created other coalition agaist him, and Napoleon could not allow to lose, and Europe yes. Europe had more sokdiers in the reservoir than Napoleon.

Fonch wrote: "Manuel wrote: "John wrote: "I agree that the ending was satisfactory. My only criticism is the idea that after Napoleon winning Waterloo and an invasion of the zombie army, history reverts back to ..."

But not winning Waterloo eliminates a key mythology that supports British Empire. And Europe had more soldiers than Napoleon before he conquered most of it the first time, before his insane invasion of Russia. Of course, unlike Hitler, Napoleon did not have the example of Napoleon to warn him of the folly. How long would the war have dragged on, how many thousands of men, men who otherwise lived productive lives, would have been killed on the fields of battle following a Napoleon victory? Napoleon would eventually have lost, or like Alexander, been killed or died from wounds, but every major battle fought can't help but change the course of history.

Manuel wrote: "John wrote: "I agree that the ending was satisfactory. My only criticism is the idea that after Napoleon winning Waterloo and an invasion of the zombie army, history reverts back to its previous co..."

I did give some thought to reason #2. :-)

John wrote: "Fonch wrote: "Manuel wrote: "John wrote: "I agree that the ending was satisfactory. My only criticism is the idea that after Napoleon winning Waterloo and an invasion of the zombie army, history re..."

Really Hitler imitated to Napoleon in the operation Redbeard, when Hitler conquered France. He visited the tomb of Napoleon. He admired to the little corse general, curiously Napoleon admired general Tilly (a general of the 30 years war), and the prusian emperor Frederick II. But there is a small different between Napoleon and Hitler. Napoleon start to lose when he trusted in his general, and Hitler started to lose when he personally start to lead the military operations. Hitler was a brave soldier, but he was not a good general (thanks to the Lord, poor Europe).
I think that the history is very complicate to change like he said the character of the movie final countdown Th. Owens. However although the events do not happen we do not know like the history conclude. England convert in the most powerful country in 1714 in the Spanish sucession, and he kept the international order until 1945, and they manage to the country most powerful was a country which they had a good relationship. The keys of their success good diplomatic, and they have good allied in the war, that they started. France, and Germany are witneses of my words. England had an empire, and they could lose it worthly.

The ending is very satisfying. It beautifully sums up the whole book. It assisted in my understanding, which, I admit, I was struggling with for a while.
The additional comments by you, Manuel, helped me to know the author too.
Thank you for a very thought provoking and easily discussable book.
Thank you too, John, for the great discussion questions.

Celia wrote: "The ending is very satisfying. It beautifully sums up the whole book. It assisted in my understanding, which, I admit, I was struggling with for a while.
The additional comments by you, Manuel, hel..."
The truth the debate was very exciting, and John asked very interesting questions.

@Celia and @Fonch, I must confess (I thought I had disclosed this somewhere, but if I didn't, my bad), I don't get credit for the questions this month. Manuel very graciously agreed to generate questions to lead our discussion.

John wrote: "@Celia and @Fonch, I must confess (I thought I had disclosed this somewhere, but if I didn't, my bad), I don't get credit for the questions this month. Manuel very graciously agreed to generate que..."

I think the credit should go to both of us, as John also participated in the selection and naming of the discussions :-)

Manuel wrote: "John wrote: "@Celia and @Fonch, I must confess (I thought I had disclosed this somewhere, but if I didn't, my bad), I don't get credit for the questions this month. Manuel very graciously agreed to..."
Aplause for Manuel Alfonseca.

John wrote: "@Celia and @Fonch, I must confess (I thought I had disclosed this somewhere, but if I didn't, my bad), I don't get credit for the questions this month. Manuel very graciously agreed to generate que..."

Aplause for John.