In this excerpt from the portfolio of Seamus Burke Sundermeier (English ’20), he takes Geoffrey of Monmouth to deep space. His re-imagination of medieval historiography, particularly Geoffrey of Monmouth’s “History of the Kings of Britain,” reflects on medieval constructions of kingship and counsel:
I tried to match the pseudo-history that is present in the work of Arthurian “History”. This story treats Arthur as a brilliant strategist just as he is in Monmouth’s novel. Arthur uses his relationships that he developed as a young man to help lead the people of the caravan just as he uses his alliances to help defeat his enemies. Instead of making Merlin a prophet who advised the king, I made the character an artificial intelligence that eventually helps bring salvation to the human realm.
The result is a contemporary, sci-fi take on history writing sure to please fans of Arthuriana and Battlestar Galactica alike.
from A History of Intergalactic Generals
Earth was the best of planets, situated in what was the Milky Way Galaxy. With a diameter of almost 8,000 miles, there was much land to shared amongst great leaders. The planet was luxurious, generous, and allowed for overwhelming prosperity for all of its creatures. Yet our people squandered it nonetheless, and we were forcefully cast out from the safe bosom of our Mother Earth. A planet, ruined by pollution, was now toxic for all living creatures.
Many people tried to lead the ark of survivors out into the cold depths of space. However, few were as successful as the Great General Arthur. Fifty years after millions of people were forced to caravan across the galaxy to look for a new home, Arthur was born. Knowing only the cold steel of his traveling home and the black void of his deadly surroundings, the young man developed a determination to save his people and explore the universe for a home fit for a new generation of life. As he grew, he studied the known universe, scouring the data for any signs of a new home.
He inspired some with his ambition to find a sustainable planet, and upon his completion of schooling, he was admitted onto the Council of Intergalactic Travel and Sustainability. Yet this population of hopeful youth was not enough to turn the elders from the darkness. Men and women began to fall into a hopeless insanity. Those who had known the warmth of the sun’s touch, the feeling of fresh air in their lungs, and the savor of unprocessed food on their tongues began to go mad from the containment of the vessels. Small insurrections of maddened people had broken out in the years prior, but the Council had been able to squash these violent outbursts in time to stop paranoia from reaching others’ minds. It was hard not to go crazy when one had been cooped up in a station for seventy-five years.
Arthur recognized the turmoil surrounding him and knew he had to act quickly. Over years of schooling, the young man had made bonds with the best and brightest minds within the caravan of space shuttles. They began working in secret to create a data analyzing artificial intelligence. Twenty-five of the brightest young minds began to work as many of the older generations threw themselves from the ships, escaping their psychosis forever. Numbers were still strong but were beginning to dwindle with time.
After years of hard work, Arthur had accomplished his technological feat. They had claimed a near-abandoned ship’s motherboard for their work, and its navigation system was now operating to find planets best suited for sustainable life. The title of the AI was Motherboard v.3 Repurposed for a Life-Supporting Inhabitable New-Earth, or M.3.R.L.I.N for short.
Upon activating M.3.R.L.I.N, Arthur pressed him for advice and help seeking the planet they all desperately desired. M.3.R.L.I.N proposed three planets of equal chances of colonization. People rejoiced at the recent news of hope. They praised Arthur for his brilliance and appointed him the first General of the Ark. His first decision was to separate the bright minds and tasked them with finding out more information about these planets. M.3.R.L.I.N was fitted onto every ship, as an advisor for all of the travelers and explorers.
After several years under Arthur’s rule, the explorers finally returned. The first to arrive had saddening news. The planet they explored was not fit for humanity, and many of the explorers on the expedition were lost in the night. The second to arrive had similarly dire news. Panic began to break out on the caravan, but Arthur began to rule with a tight iron fist. He controlled the mania, and assured all would be well. Eventually, the third ship returned. The planet they sought was out there. The final ship had found a planet with a peaceful civilization, and the Earthlings might be able to colonize. Arthur plotted a course for this land.
Upon arrival, Arthur met with the leaders of the new-found civilization and transcribed a treaty for the Earthlings to have a small section of their lush planet for a colony to continue life. The people named this colony Camelot and Arthur continued for years.
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Seamus Burke Sundermeier is a senior studying for a double major in English (with the focus area of creative writing) and Film Studies (with the focus area of screenwriting). He loves creative writing and has aspirations of becoming a screenwriter. He dreams of one day creating a major motion picture or television series based on his ideas and writing.