A Slave is a Slave Illustrated

A Slave is a Slave by H. Beam Piper

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The Galactic Empire annexes a backward, barbaric world on the fringe of the Empire. The Empire is a pretty hands-off operation that is only concerned that no one challenge its interplanetary sovereignty, but it is also a fairly liberal empire and among its few rules is one that forbids slavery. The newly annexed planet is founded on slavery.

We, of course, root for the slaves against the masters, but there is something off about the slaves. Are the oppressed victims always virtuous?

This is a well-written story, somewhat longer than a short story and shorter than a novella. It develops its plot and themes gradually and logically. There is not infrequent humor as the people on the annexed planet try to understand “money” and “freedom.” It is also surprisingly modern in this Year of Our Lord 2021, where we are erecting statues to thugs because they are the right kind of victim.

"”Yes. I pointed one of them out to you some time ago: emotional involvement with local groups. You began sympathizing with the servile class here almost immediately. I don't think either of us learned anything about them that the other didn't, yet I found them despicable, one and all. Why did you think them worthy of your sympathy?”

“Why, because... .” For a moment, that was as far as he could get. His motivation had been thalamic rather than cortical and he was having trouble externalizing it verbally. “They were slaves. They were being exploited and oppressed... .” “

And, of course, their exploiters were a lot of heartless villains, so that made the slaves good and virtuous innocents. That was your real, fundamental, mistake. You know, Obray, the downtrodden and long-suffering proletariat aren't at all good or innocent or virtuous.

Piper, Henry Beam . A Slave is a Slave Illustrated (p. 51). Kindle Edition.

This is the kind of meaty human insight that we used to get from science fiction.

I miss it.