Article 17: Summary up to now

Oct 21, 2024

On the first Feminian Sandstones we were promised the Fuller Life
(Which started by loving our neighbour and ended by loving his wife)
Till our women had no more children and the men lost reason and faith,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "The Wages of Sin is Death."
Rudyard Kipling

Article 17 is not just a story. I rarely write ‘just stories’. It is an examination of issues, a working out of philosophy and, indeed, religion.

Our culture is busy killing itself… just like the culture in Article 17 was. They had help from aliens, but they were getting weak and decadent. We are getting weak and decadent. Our women have no more children, and our men have lost reason and faith.

Because you cannot lose reason without losing faith, for faith is the foundation for reason. And when sexual ethics is gone, our women will have no more children, for sexual ethics is the foundation of fertility

Marriage and Children

Article 17 begins with a marriage. The dictator (may he live long and well) dictated a law (pun intended) intended to get his military men wives. Even though they were on their way to the front, he wanted them to have wives with them.

To have wives and produce children. The Great Genetic Correction has led to everyone having twins and triplets, but marriage itself tends to produce children, especially marriage properly done. Which it isn’t nowadays.

Discipline

The last few chapters were about discipline. Illoia needed to discipline herself to adapt to her new husband, and those pesky rankers needed discipline. And Tom provided both. But not in mere giving, in mere punishment, but in setting systems in place so that Illoia could get exercise and training, and learn to hydrate. And the two rankers could learn not to blaspheme and not to snitch.

Meanwhile

Meanwhile there are other marriages. Aleshia is settling in comfortably with her older widower; reminding us that women used to think of an older man as a better catch. Boaz praised Ruth for not chasing after younger men.

And each of these women who couldn’t have imagined marrying a military man just a few days ago, are now adapting to their new role.

Conclusion

Article 17 is nowhere near its conclusion, but some conclusions are evident: that a good wife is one who adapts, not one who falls in love. That a good leader is one who leads, including themselves. That a good society is not one where everyone does what they please, but where they do what helps the society survive.

And overall, that God is to be Honoured.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading Article 17. It’s not done, I have lots more chapters. I would love it if you commented. It’s kind of funny seeing the numbers of views go up, but not having much in the way of comments.

Thanks for reading, God Bless, Soli Deo Gloria, Von

Links

Article 17

Article 17 is a military science fiction story with aliens and romance. It is set in a future reminiscent of Napoleon era Britain. The war was going very poorly until the military installed a dictator. This story follows one of the dictator’s great men: Cladin Tomirosh, Leader, and thrice decorated hero.

Intro // Podcast Version

She was pretty, popular, snobby, and a planetary governor’s daughter. He was the son of shopkeepers, a social misfit, and a decorated hero. She thought she was there to dance. He had other ideas.

A Dance // Podcast Version

As a governor’s daughter, Illoia usually avoided such events, but when the captain made the announcement that there was to be an Article 17 dance, she, too, was forced to attend. If only the scum hadn’t been there too.