SAM J. LUNDWALL
No Time for Heroes, 1971
SAM JERRIE. LUNDWALL, 1941
SWEDISH SCIENCE FICTION WRITER,
TRANSLATOR, PUBLISHER, AND SINGER
SAM J. LUNDWALL, 1941
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Translated science-fiction-related articles and works from
Swedish into English.
Debut as a writer in the 1950s when he wrote for Häpna!.
active as a photographer and freelance writer. During the
1960’s
Produced the LP "Visor i vår tid".
In 1968, he worked as a producer for Swedish TV and
made a TV series about science fiction.
In 1969, he published his first book-length work on
science fiction, "Science fiction – från begynnelsen till
våra dagar".
During the 1990s he continued publishing science fiction
in his own publishing company
Lundwall was also the editor of the science fiction
HARD-CORE SCIENCE FICTION
Far-away
 Almost unrecognizable
 Extreme / exaggerated
 Pithy dialogue
 Superficial characters / stereotypes
 Unbelievable action
 Highly developed technology
 Entertainment value?
 Message?
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AVATAR, 2009
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http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi9378867
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http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi7030057
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A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND OF WHAT’S GOING ON
IN 1971
-Scandinavian Area News Dutch doctors establish first abortion clinic
 Norway begins drilling for oil in North Sea
-World News US ended trade embargo with China
 Vietnam War
 Still the Cold War
-Technological Advancements Apollo 15 crew first to ride in a lunar rover on the Moon
 Texas Instruments makes 1st pocket calculator
 Intel releases the world’s first microprocessor
 First internet chat room appears
PLOT SUMMARY
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The new “Emperor” of the Universe sends out fleets to loot old
planets. These old worlds were part of a vast empire that is
now long gone, but are defended by cybernetic brains.
Bernard Rordin, a scout, “volunteers” to go down to the planet.
The Central Brain begins to talk to him.
Bernhard wanders the planet, accompanied by the frustrating
Robofriend. He discovers strange people and robots scattered
across the planet, including cowboys, whores, and gods. The
Central Brain reveals it has recreated these things from old
books by using protoplasm.
Bernhard is perpetually harassed by the Robofriend with its
advertising schemes and his superiors who demand that he
‘does his duty’. Even though Bernhard fears Ironjaw and
Superhawk, he ignores them, and spends most of his time
trying to escape from the Central Brain’s creations.
Is married to a nurse, honeymoons in Dracula’s castle, visits
Valhalla, is thrown in jail, fights a gladiator match against
Ironjaw, etc.
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Bernhard has no interest in the planet; only wishes to
remain alive and seek vengeance on his superiors.
Ironjaw lands on the planet to find Bernhard but is
defeated by the protoplasm creations., the ancient Gods.
Early on, Bernhard meets a cowboy – robot who turns out
to be the leading robot in the Death to Man League
initiated by Dr. Immanuel Asimov, ”immortal, terrible mad
scientist” (116)
The Central Brain is constantly following Bernhard’s
movements; it can talk to him and observe him through any
object in the world. Alternately, it threatens, harasses, and
expresses its love for him.
Bernhard eventually finds the Central Brain’s control
station and lures the Central Brain to show himthe manual
override, so he can take over the planet.
However, instead, the Robofriend takes over as the new
leader of the Death to Man League, forcing Bernhard to
return to the fleet with his insufferably doting wife and a
THE ROLE OF TIME IN THE STORY
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Very futuristic approach - but there are continual hints
about history
The reflection of history begins when Bernard lands on the
planet in some ancient ruins
Merging of the past and future throughout Bernard’s
adventures
The futuristic idea of Robofriend and the central brain 
the past nostalgia of the Cowboy-robot character
The idea of God or gods? Whenever Bernard says “God” the
central brain appears – and it has created ancient gods.
Lundwall includes:
Castle Dracula (Dracula’s home), Odin and Thor (Norse
gods), Conan the Conqueror (from a fantasy book written in
1935), nurse-romance books, and Dr. Asimov (Isaac Asimov,
famous science fiction author – of robot tales a.o.)
INFLUENCES OF TECHNOLOGY?
 Space
travel and a vast Empire – Star Wars
 Self-repairing space-ships
 References to an “ugly” gun – enormous
amounts of gun-power,
 Cybernetic brains defending planets with
heavily armed defense systems
 The Robofriend, live advertisements, spy etc.
 The role of the Central Brain – AI
 Creation of all kinds of objects – for desire,
e.g. women, or battle, e.g. monsters
 Technology in general was in essence the
driving force behind Bernhard’s existence
and the book’s plot
UTOPIA / DYSTOPIA ?
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A society not worthy of humans
Central Brain forges the relationship between humans
and technology – however, Bernard didn’t use the brain to
his advantage till the end
Totalitarian State run by soldiers
Captain Superhawk, Old Ironjaw
No choice • Bernard had no choice when he ‘volunteered’
Family is non-existent
• No mention of children or real marriage, only fake
romance in Terry’s artificial mind
• Disgust at the thought of real birth
Very technology- driven, materialistic society
• Credit cards – Robofriend – Central Brain
THE FUTURISTIC DYSTOPIA
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Bernhard, the Hero escapes and takes over the Central
Brain
But – then, he is immediately ousted from power by
Robofriend
Space empire
 Space as the new frontier
Women seen as instruments for various sexual pleasures
 Terry and the chamber maid – robots, creations etc.
Cowardice – both Robofriend and Bernard
Everyone seems to be a soldier – with bad pay
– $600 was half a year’s pay
Self-interest and self-preservation are the highest virtues
– No one can trust one another
TECHNOLOGY
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Advanced beyond the people’s ability to control it.
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Central Brain is all powerful but insane; robots don’t follow the rules
Mostly scavenged from older societies; information
now only used for ‘treasure hunting’
 Man is dependent on technology and is regressing as
technology is advancing
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AI reflects mentality of the people around it
Central Brain is God. Omnipotent, Omniscient,
Ubiquitous.
Magical abilities of technology taken for granted.
Anything is possible, but no one is ready to appreciate
it.
Mass destruction of spaceships through the warped,
creative powers of Central Brains.
The presence of the Gods? - a comment on the
SOCIETY
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Primarily the military
Extreme capitalism
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Interchangeable hierarchy; commanders easily
replaceable with no real difference. Fleet admiral
makes no decisions.
Control through fear, bribery, cronyism
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Low wages; must pay for everything.
Use of robots to intimidate, exasperate
Healthy relationships impossible
Humanity is physically, mentally weakened
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Operating on basic, self-centered emotions. No forethought, rational
thinking, or artistic creativity.
Inconsistent attitudes, opportunistic, and volatile resembling childlike behavior. Frequently violent, unwilling to listen, and focusing
on survival – the animal instinct..
LITERATURE
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Planet is overrun by the protoplasm creations
drawn from old books.
 Everything from old myths and classic literature
to cheap novels and comic books
 Effect of literature on society
 Old society had used protoplasm mostly for sex.
Literary creations done after the collapse.
 Dr. Immanuel Asimov, leader of the Death to
Man League
 Reference to Isaac Asimov, famous sci-fi
author
 8 foot tall mad scientist.
 Death to Man League mirrors his ‘I, Robot’
series.
 1st law of robotics mentioned, broken
repeatedly.
FUN QUOTES
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“It’s the central brain’s fault. Real pervert he is.”
“Death to Man!”
“No one told me there were monsters here!...They sent me down
here to die.”
“Have you ever heard of anybody being born of a woman?...You
make me sick!...Don’t use no dirty words here mister, or I will
turn you inside-out! What kind of pervert are you anyway?
“Two hundred thousand years I have given my best for Man, and
this is the thanks I get for it!”
“Don’t care about my feelings. Go on and drool over that wretch!”
“He had never been of trusting nature, and this stay on this
planet had given him ample reasons to distrust everybody and
everything that for some altruistic reason or other wanted to help
him.”
“God Almighty!” “Yes, I’m here, what do you want.”
QUESTIONS
Explain the meaning of the book’s title.
 Characterize and explain the role of Robofriend
as a commentary on consumerism
 What gender do you believe the Central Brain is
if any, and is that important to the relationship
between Bernhard and the brain? Characterize
this relationship.
 What was the role of women in this story?
 Explain the ending – what will happen
afterwards?
 Compare this book to our previous readings. –
and discuss whether it has any relevance to us
today. Discuss what was your favorite and least
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