An isolationist pamphlet in the form of a science fiction novel, written in the 1920’s; and quaint enough to be entertaining merely because of this.

Industrial states that makes themselves dependent on the natural resources of other countries thereby fosters resentment against themselves, the book claims. And also fear within the recipient country of the “umbilical cord” (a metaphor often used) being cut, something presented as explanation for Germany starting WW1.

Resentment would be particularly high if, as was at the case with the USA when the book was written, the raw materials delivered were repayment for loans. The book ends with a small Baltic country refusing to honour its debt to the USA in the year 1950, and with Germany supporting this idea, which spreads, and with the USA finally being annihilated by Germany through nitrate in the air above the country being ignited.

Something which sounds a bit backward, with the US surely with much better reasons for starting a war in such a situation? But whatever, the real war arrived 10 years ahead of schedule, Germany was the initiator, and the atomic bomb has some resemblance to the nitrate in the air one.

One thought that must occur to a Norwegian reader, like me, is that you need to be a fairly large country to be self sufficient in everything, but Garrett was of course wilfully US-centred. ( )