02666cam a22003853u 4500 51153 UtSlPG 20260610134157.0 m cr n 260607r2016||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 PS Clothier, Bill, 1921-2015 The Semantic War Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2016 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Produced from Galaxy Science Fiction November 1955 Release date is 2016-02-08 Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net "The Semantic War" by Bill Clothier is a science fiction novella written in the mid-20th century, specifically during the 1950s. This thought-provoking narrative examines the theme of communication and the chaos that can arise from misunderstandings, as manifested through a bizarre and violent conflict grounded in the enigmatic phrases "the Wistick dufels the Moraddy" and "the Moraddy dufels the Wistick." The book highlights how abstract concepts can galvanize groups and individuals to irrational extremes, leading to societal breakdown and personal tragedy. Set against the backdrop of a fragmented societal landscape, the story follows a philosophy professor who witnesses the disintegration of academic and social structures in the wake of this semantic conflict. As people divide themselves into factions based on their allegiance to one slogan or the other, relationships crumble, and violence ensues. The protagonist struggles with feelings of isolation and disillusionment as he tries to comprehend the absurdity of warfare prompted by mere words. Ultimately, he escapes to the mountains, wrestling with the question of which side, if any, possesses true merit amidst the devastation caused by their ideological battle. The narrative culminates in an exploration of meaning, fidelity, and the human condition in a world where language and its interpretations can lead to dire consequences. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Original publication data not identified Science fiction Short stories War stories College teachers -- Fiction Philosophers -- Fiction Wes Produced from Galaxy Science Fiction November 1955 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/51153 91991 91991