Progressor
Encyclopedia
Progressors in science fiction
are people of an advanced space-faring civilization who facilitate progress of less advanced civilizations. It comes from a perspective very much the opposite of what motivates Star Trek
's famous Prime Directive
.
The term progressor was coined by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky for their Noon Universe
(1961
-1985
, the term was mentioned in Hard to Be a God
1964
), and later it (as well as a similar term regressor) was also used by Sergey Lukyanenko
in the duology The Stars Are Cold Toys
(1997
), although with a somewhat different meaning. Doris Lessing
explores the same themes in her Canopus in Argos
series (1979
-1983
), but she calls it forced evolution. A similar concept is the basis of Iain M. Banks' novels of The Culture
(1987
-2000
); the organization carrying out the work is named Special Circumstances
. David Brin
's Uplift Universe
novels (1980
-1998
) focus on the closely related phenomenon of biological uplift
.
civilizations, apparently, not daring to "progress" non-human races, like Leoniders
or Headies
, with whom Earth prefers to keep a full scaled diplomatic contact. Aware of a possible xenophobia
, progressors usually employ stealth and secrecy to work undercover
, allowing only a few brightest and most trustworthy individuals on a planet to know their true background.
The idea of progressorism is to "straighten the history", i.e. to facilitate the way of primitive civilizations to Noon Universe-like condition and is based on the fictional theory of Historical Consequences, which determines "what is good or bad, right or not in history". Progressors diminish casualties, inflicted by historical processes or inevitable crises. However, they don't hesitate to kill in order to survive (or to achieve other goals) — this contradicts the usual mindset
of the Noon Universe, according to which every "bearer of reason" is a priori ethically equivalent to you. It's why most humans don't like progressors.
In Hard to Be a God
, collaborators of the Institute (such as don Rumata) are merely observers/historians gathering material for the theory of Historical Consequences, and saving scientists and poets is their personal activity. True progressors appear not earlier than in Inhabited Island
and Beetle in an Anthill.
Wanderers
seem to "progress" some civilizations (including Earth
), too, being ahead of humans in every aspect, from secrecy to efficiency. However Leonid Gorbovsky
thinks of this possibility as a ridiculous one:
After 2162 the public opinion has, apparently, forced Institute of Experimental History to stop initiating new projects.
and science, Lukyanenko's ones are mere an instrument of power employed by the government of one of the most technologically advanced civilizations in the universe described in "The Stars Are Cold Toys
" and "Star Shadow". This civilization (called Geometers (Геометры), because of their love for order: e.g. they even reshaped the two continents of their home planet to resemble a circle
and a square
) bears a striking resemblance to the Earth
of Noon Universe. In both, upbringing of a person is fulfilled by teachers not parents. But while Teachers of the Noon Universe help to develop the brightest sides of a personality and to form morally brought up person, Mentors of Geometers tend to meet the needs of society — forming good mannered people, unable to violate any rules of the society at all. The author himself commented that he wasn't really sure that a system described by Strugatsky brothers could function properly and presented his own vision of it.
Geometers were obsessed with an idea of building an interstellar brotherhood of all kinds of races (in other words, a form of imperialism
— a doctrine not common in Noon Universe
). But while it's impossible to change the ideology of an advanced society by force, Geometers use regressors to exterminate technology of the planet to the level, at which inhabitants will easily accept ideas of Friendship. This is where progressors came in: they raise the technological and social level, while bringing up races in the "true" way.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
are people of an advanced space-faring civilization who facilitate progress of less advanced civilizations. It comes from a perspective very much the opposite of what motivates Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
's famous Prime Directive
Prime Directive
In the universe of Star Trek, the Prime Directive, Starfleet's General Order #1, is the most prominent guiding principle of the United Federation of Planets...
.
The term progressor was coined by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky for their Noon Universe
Noon Universe
The Noon Universe is a fictional future setting for a number of hard science fiction novels written by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. The universe is named after Noon: 22nd Century, the chronologically first novel from the series...
(1961
1961 in literature
The year 1961 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*First English production of Bertolt Brecht's The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui*Michael Halliday publishes his seminal paper on the systemic functional grammar model....
-1985
1985 in literature
The year 1985 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-New books:*Isaac Asimov - Robots and Empire*Margaret Atwood - The Handmaid's Tale*Jean M. Auel - The Mammoth Hunters*Iain Banks - Walking on Glass...
, the term was mentioned in Hard to Be a God
Hard to Be a God
Hard to be a God is a 1964 sci-fi novel by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky set in the Noon Universe.The novel follows Anton, an undercover operative from the future planet Earth, in his mission on an alien planet, that is populated by human beings, whose society has not advanced beyond the Middle Ages...
1964
1964 in literature
The year 1964 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*Jean-Paul Sartre becomes head of the Organization to Defend Iranian Political Prisoners....
), and later it (as well as a similar term regressor) was also used by Sergey Lukyanenko
Sergey Lukyanenko
Sergei Vasilievich Lukyanenko is a science fiction and fantasy author, writing in Russian, and is arguably the most popular contemporary Russian sci-fi writer...
in the duology The Stars Are Cold Toys
The Stars Are Cold Toys
The Stars Are Cold Toys — Star Shadow are two 1997 books of a space opera duology by Russian science fiction writer Sergey Lukianenko. It's a first-person narration, told by a pilot Pyotr Khrumov, who attempts to prevent destruction of the planet....
(1997
1997 in literature
The year 1997 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*Tom Clancy signs a book deal with Pearson Custom Publishing and Penguin Putnam Inc. , giving him US$50 million for the world-English rights to two new books . A second agreement gives him another US$25 million for a...
), although with a somewhat different meaning. Doris Lessing
Doris Lessing
Doris May Lessing CH is a British writer. Her novels include The Grass is Singing, The Golden Notebook, and five novels collectively known as Canopus in Argos....
explores the same themes in her Canopus in Argos
Canopus in Argos
Canopus in Argos: Archives is a sequence of five science fiction novels by Nobel Prize in Literature-winning author Doris Lessing which portray a number of societies at different stages of development, over a great period of time...
series (1979
1979 in literature
The year 1979 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-New books:*Douglas Adams - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy*V.C...
-1983
1983 in literature
The year 1983 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*Ironweed by William Kennedy is published.*Salvage for the Saint by Peter Bloxsom and John Kruse is published. This is the final book in a series of novels, novellas and short stories featuring the Leslie Charteris...
), but she calls it forced evolution. A similar concept is the basis of Iain M. Banks' novels of The Culture
The Culture
The Culture is a fictional interstellar anarchist, socialist, and utopian society created by the Scottish writer Iain M. Banks which features in a number of science fiction novels and works of short fiction by him, collectively called the Culture series....
(1987
1987 in literature
The year 1987 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*Tom Wolfe was paid $5 million for the film rights to his novel, The Bonfire of the Vanities, the most ever earned by an author, at the time.-Fiction:...
-2000
2000 in literature
The year 2000 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:* February 13 - Final original Peanuts comic strip is published...
); the organization carrying out the work is named Special Circumstances
Special Circumstances
Special Circumstances, abbreviated SC, is a 'secret service'-type organisation that exists within the fictional anarchist utopian science fiction civilisation known as the Culture. It forms a background and plot device in several novels and shorter works of Iain M...
. David Brin
David Brin
Glen David Brin, Ph.D. is an American scientist and award-winning author of science fiction. He has received the Hugo, Locus, Campbell and Nebula Awards.-Biography:...
's Uplift Universe
Uplift Universe
The Uplift Universe is a fictional universe created by science fiction writer David Brin. A central feature in this universe is the process of biological uplift.His books which take place in this universe:* Sundiver...
novels (1980
1980 in literature
The year 1980 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*Marguerite Yourcenar becomes the first woman to be elected to the Académie française....
-1998
1998 in literature
The year 1998 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*March 5 - Tennessee Williams' 1938 play, Not About Nightingales, receives its stage première....
) focus on the closely related phenomenon of biological uplift
Biological uplift
In science fiction, uplift is the development or transformation of animals into an intelligent race by other, already-intelligent beings. The concept appears in David Brin's Uplift series and other science fiction works.-History of the concept:...
.
Noon Universe Progressors
Strugatsky's progressors are agents of the Institute of Experimental History (IEH), in some cases, indirectly controlled by both COMCONs. They are working only with humanHumans (Noon Universe)
Humans of the Noon Universe created by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky are mostly identical to homo sapiens. Humans inhabit numerous planets, but their original homeworld is probably Earth, others being populated by humans, presumably, as a result of Wanderers' manipulations.-Human Planets:The...
civilizations, apparently, not daring to "progress" non-human races, like Leoniders
Leoniders
Leoniders are a fictional alien race from the Noon Universe created by the Strugatsky brothers. Their homeworld is Leonida , a planet discovered in 2133 AD by Leonid Gorbovsky....
or Headies
Headies
The Golovans are a fictional alien race from the Noon Universe created by the Strugatsky brothers. Their homeworld is called Saraksh, allegedly discovered by A.-I. Bader in 2148 AD...
, with whom Earth prefers to keep a full scaled diplomatic contact. Aware of a possible xenophobia
Xenophobia
Xenophobia is defined as "an unreasonable fear of foreigners or strangers or of that which is foreign or strange". It comes from the Greek words ξένος , meaning "stranger," "foreigner" and φόβος , meaning "fear."...
, progressors usually employ stealth and secrecy to work undercover
Undercover
Being undercover is disguising one's own identity or using an assumed identity for the purposes of gaining the trust of an individual or organization to learn secret information or to gain the trust of targeted individuals in order to gain information or evidence...
, allowing only a few brightest and most trustworthy individuals on a planet to know their true background.
The idea of progressorism is to "straighten the history", i.e. to facilitate the way of primitive civilizations to Noon Universe-like condition and is based on the fictional theory of Historical Consequences, which determines "what is good or bad, right or not in history". Progressors diminish casualties, inflicted by historical processes or inevitable crises. However, they don't hesitate to kill in order to survive (or to achieve other goals) — this contradicts the usual mindset
Mindset
In decision theory and general systems theory, a mindset is a set of assumptions, methods or notations held by one or more people or groups of people which is so established that it creates a powerful incentive within these people or groups to continue to adopt or accept prior behaviors, choices,...
of the Noon Universe, according to which every "bearer of reason" is a priori ethically equivalent to you. It's why most humans don't like progressors.
In Hard to Be a God
Hard to Be a God
Hard to be a God is a 1964 sci-fi novel by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky set in the Noon Universe.The novel follows Anton, an undercover operative from the future planet Earth, in his mission on an alien planet, that is populated by human beings, whose society has not advanced beyond the Middle Ages...
, collaborators of the Institute (such as don Rumata) are merely observers/historians gathering material for the theory of Historical Consequences, and saving scientists and poets is their personal activity. True progressors appear not earlier than in Inhabited Island
Inhabited Island
*Prisoners of Power , novel*The Inhabited Island, 2008-9 film...
and Beetle in an Anthill.
Wanderers
Wanderers (Noon Universe)
Wanderers are a fictional alien race from the Noon Universe created by Strugatsky brothers. Their homeworld is unknown. No official contact between Earth and Wanderers has ever been registered, although they've contacted humans from other planets, e.g...
seem to "progress" some civilizations (including Earth
Earth (Noon Universe)
In the Noon Universe created by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky Earth is one of the planets populated by humans as well as their assumed origin. It is identical to the modern Earth except for the fact that it is set in the 22nd century...
), too, being ahead of humans in every aspect, from secrecy to efficiency. However Leonid Gorbovsky
Leonid Gorbovsky
Leonid Gorbovsky is a fictional character in Boris and Arkady Strugatsky's series of science fiction novels set in the Noon Universe.-Biography:...
thinks of this possibility as a ridiculous one:
- In the whole universe only our humankind practices progressorism, because our history is like that, because we weep over our past... We can't change it and we strive at least to help others, since we didn't manage to help ourselves in time... That's where our Progressorism comes from! And the Wanderers, even if their past did resemble ours, are so far from it now that they don't even remember it.
Progressor Projects in the 22nd Century
The middle of the 22nd century was a boom for IEH and progressors. Here are some of their most famous projects.- Saula Project. Never actually described in any book, this project was presumably initiated in 2141 AD, right after the discovery of SaulaSaulaSaula is the second planet of EN-7031 solar system, about one and a half times further from its sun than Earth is from ours. The day and night cycle on Saula lasts 28 hours, its mass is about 1.1 of Earth, which means that acceleration of gravity is roughly equal to 10.8 m/s². It has three moons...
and the reactivation of IEH.
- Arkanar Project. Despite the fact that ArkanarArkanarArkanar is the capital of Arkanar Kingdom on a fictional unnamed planet described in "Hard to Be a God" by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky. This planet is a part of the so called Noon Universe and presents a world in a late feudalistic/Renaissance stage...
was discovered back in 2134, a full scaled progressor operation was started only in 2141. Because at that point the planet already entered the RenaissanceRenaissanceThe Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
stage, progressors' actions generally consisted of protecting and rescuing (if necessary) scientists and artists persecuted by reactionaryReactionaryThe term reactionary refers to viewpoints that seek to return to a previous state in a society. The term is meant to describe one end of a political spectrum whose opposite pole is "radical". While it has not been generally considered a term of praise it has been adopted as a self-description by...
governments. Apart from that, Arkanar was the planet where the Basic Theory of Feudalism was tested and polished. The Arkanar Project has been known for causing severe psychological traumaPsychological traumaPsychological trauma is a type of damage to the psyche that occurs as a result of a traumatic event...
s to IEH agents working on it. Most infamous incident on Arkanar is known as "Arkanar Massacre". (The concept of Arkanar massacre was invented not by Strugatsky's, but by another author, Sergey Pereslegin, who continued their story.)
- Giganda Project. Like Arkanar, Giganda was discovered (in 2136) long before an official progressor operation on it was launched (in 2143). By the 2153 AD progressors managed to stop the war, which was started, probably, long before Earth's explorers even landed on the planet. Korney Yashmaa, one of the "StepchildrenStepchildren (Noon Universe)In the Noon Universe created by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, the foundlings are a group of 13 humans, who evolved out of the embryos stored in the "sarcophagus". The embryos were discovered on December 26, 2137 by Boris Fokin's group of explorers on an unnamed planet in star system EN-9173...
" participated in Giganda Project in 2177.
- Saraksh Project. After its discovery in 2148, SarakshSarakshSaraksh is a fictional planet described in Prisoners of Power by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. This planet is a part of the so called Noon Universe and presents a world that survived an atomic war. As a result, the surface of the planet is mostly covered with debris and junk...
immediately became subject to a progressor project which four years later was personally headed by the chief of COMCON-2, Rudolf SikorskiRudolf SikorskiRudolf Sikorski is a fictional character in Boris and Arkady Strugatsky's series of science fiction novels set in the Noon Universe, also known as Exzellenz or Wanderer. Sikorski appears in Prisoners of Power and Beetle in the Anthill...
. For nine years progressors tried to ease the tension between rivaling states on the planet, but their efforts were ruined by unknowing Maxim KammererMaxim KammererMaxim Kammerer is a fictional character in Arkady and Boris Strugatsky's series of science fiction novels set in the Noon Universe....
in 2157. The "Kammerer Crisis" was another serious failure of IEH.- "Headies in the Space". A Saraksh sub-project, it was initiated after a full scaled diplomatic contact with HeadiesHeadiesThe Golovans are a fictional alien race from the Noon Universe created by the Strugatsky brothers. Their homeworld is called Saraksh, allegedly discovered by A.-I. Bader in 2148 AD...
was established. A group of progressors led by Lev AbalkinLev AbalkinLev Abalkin is a fictional character in Boris and Arkady Strugatsky's series of science fiction novels set in the Noon Universe.-Biography:Lev Abalkin was born on 6. October 2138 on Earth...
(a Headies-expert and one of the "Stepchildren") shared the space-travelling technologies with the kynoid race and helped them to establish a permanent embassy on Earth. The project commenced in the skies over Pandora.
- "Headies in the Space". A Saraksh sub-project, it was initiated after a full scaled diplomatic contact with Headies
- Ark Project. Initiated in 2161, right after the discovery of Pant, this operation was intended to transport all Pantians to another planet which would not be in danger of a stellar catastrophe. The initial choice was ArkArk (Noon Universe)Ark is a fictional planet described in Space Mowgli by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. This planet is a part of the so called Noon Universe and presents a barren world very similar to Earth in all aspects except the biosphere...
, but after the discovery of a sentient alien race on it progressors had to find another target planet. At this point the project got a second goal: to establish a contact with Ark MegaformsArk MegaformsArk Megaforms are a fictional alien race from the Noon Universe created by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky. Their homeworld is Ark , a planet officially discovered 2160 AD in the course of "Ark Project"....
. It isn't stated anywhere in the books how (and if) the Ark Project was ever completed.
- Operation "Dead World". The goal of this operation (initiated in 2162) was to rescue the remnant population of Hope from their homeworld which was devastated by a global ecological catastrophe. However, the people of Hope fiercely rejected any help from progressors, apparently, believing them to be Wanderers' agents. Lev Abalkin and his Headie companion, Schyokn-Itrch, participated in this operation in 2162.
After 2162 the public opinion has, apparently, forced Institute of Experimental History to stop initiating new projects.
Lukyanenko's Progressors
Unlike Strugatky's progressors who were selfless knights of altruismAltruism
Altruism is a concern for the welfare of others. It is a traditional virtue in many cultures, and a core aspect of various religious traditions, though the concept of 'others' toward whom concern should be directed can vary among cultures and religions. Altruism is the opposite of...
and science, Lukyanenko's ones are mere an instrument of power employed by the government of one of the most technologically advanced civilizations in the universe described in "The Stars Are Cold Toys
The Stars Are Cold Toys
The Stars Are Cold Toys — Star Shadow are two 1997 books of a space opera duology by Russian science fiction writer Sergey Lukianenko. It's a first-person narration, told by a pilot Pyotr Khrumov, who attempts to prevent destruction of the planet....
" and "Star Shadow". This civilization (called Geometers (Геометры), because of their love for order: e.g. they even reshaped the two continents of their home planet to resemble a circle
Circle
A circle is a simple shape of Euclidean geometry consisting of those points in a plane that are a given distance from a given point, the centre. The distance between any of the points and the centre is called the radius....
and a square
Square (geometry)
In geometry, a square is a regular quadrilateral. This means that it has four equal sides and four equal angles...
) bears a striking resemblance to the Earth
Earth (Noon Universe)
In the Noon Universe created by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky Earth is one of the planets populated by humans as well as their assumed origin. It is identical to the modern Earth except for the fact that it is set in the 22nd century...
of Noon Universe. In both, upbringing of a person is fulfilled by teachers not parents. But while Teachers of the Noon Universe help to develop the brightest sides of a personality and to form morally brought up person, Mentors of Geometers tend to meet the needs of society — forming good mannered people, unable to violate any rules of the society at all. The author himself commented that he wasn't really sure that a system described by Strugatsky brothers could function properly and presented his own vision of it.
Geometers were obsessed with an idea of building an interstellar brotherhood of all kinds of races (in other words, a form of imperialism
Imperialism
Imperialism, as defined by Dictionary of Human Geography, is "the creation and/or maintenance of an unequal economic, cultural, and territorial relationships, usually between states and often in the form of an empire, based on domination and subordination." The imperialism of the last 500 years,...
— a doctrine not common in Noon Universe
Noon Universe
The Noon Universe is a fictional future setting for a number of hard science fiction novels written by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. The universe is named after Noon: 22nd Century, the chronologically first novel from the series...
). But while it's impossible to change the ideology of an advanced society by force, Geometers use regressors to exterminate technology of the planet to the level, at which inhabitants will easily accept ideas of Friendship. This is where progressors came in: they raise the technological and social level, while bringing up races in the "true" way.