Michael Swanwick's Periodic Table of Science Fiction

103

Lawrencium

(262)

Lawrence of America

The archaeologist, scholar, author, and military genius E. T. Lawrence

was assigned to Earth during the First Galactic War and charged with

finding a way to stymie Axis forces which were using the planet as a

staging area preparatory to the assault on Centaurus. There he conceived

the unorthodox plan of undermining the Axis's Chinese allies by

encouraging the tributary nations of North America to rise up in

rebellion against their conquerors.

Lawrence in colorful native garb, his necktie flying over his shoulder as

he leads the Americans into battle, is one of the most romantic images in

all Galactic War One. His vision of a revived American nation (rather

larger than the original, for it would encompass the entire continent),

combined with his valor, endurance, and promises of extraplanetary gold,

united the self-serving politicians for a time and led to the conquest of

Toronto and New York, the sterilization of vast stretches of Asia, and

ultimately to a triumphant, if somewhat bloody, drive on Mexico City

itself.

Alas, with the conclusion of the war, Lawrence's American allies proved

themselves unworthy of self-government and turned upon each other in

savage factionalism. Disillusioned, this being of rare parts fell upon

hard times. Refusing all honors, he had a full-body change and enlisted

as a Denebian slitherer and served with distinction in the Mud Wars, but

ultimately found no true satisfaction in the Semisolid Corps. A tragic

accident while nova-surfing put an end to his unhappy life.

Earth is today administered by the Hegemony with the greatest respect for

and altruism toward its native peoples. Despite what cynics say, our

presence there has nothing whatsoever to do with the slave trade.

The End