The Ages to Come Are Wisest

Abstract

In this paper, I examine the proposition supplied by the earliest historians: that their subject, the events of the past, is worthy of record and study. Rather than approaching this premise from a theoretical standpoint, I will instead project that question onto the problems faced not by a collective group, but by a single individual, whose example is drawn from the series of novels (affectionately known as the Soldier novels) by the American science–fiction/fantasy author Gene Wolfe. I suggest that a different way of thinking about historiography may be reached by considering the problems common to historiography and to the protagonist of the novels, whose situation is uniquely fitted to such an exercise. I then demonstrate how this may be done through a comparison of situations occurring in the fictional world of the Soldier novels with those recorded by ancient writers. This comparison does not necessarily aim to confirm or deny the idea that a study of historiography can provide benefit to present actors, but rather that considering these events in comparison with Latro’s story provides new insights into their importance.