War—what is it good for? As it turns it, it's a pretty great way to achieve wealth and fame. During the Civil War, the fictional Gun Club made a name for itself by creating the best weapons on the planet. But now they have a problem: The war's over, and these illustrious inventors need something else to spend their talents on. Fancy that. In From the Earth to the Moon, we learn about the complicated political and economic rationales that drive nations to war, as well as the twisted motivations that drive otherwise-decent men to massacre thousands.
Questions About Warfare
- Why does the Gun Club love war so much? Give examples from the text for each member.
- Does Ardan agree with the members of the Gun Club about the nature of war? Explain.
- Does the existence of the Gun Club make war more likely? Why or why not?
- Do you think the Gun Club will go back to producing weapons after this mission?
Chew on This
In From the Earth to the Moon, the war-mongering nature of the Gun Club predicts concerns over the military industrial complex in the second half of the twenty-first century.
Although the Gun Club guys consider themselves to be respectable scientists, they're nothing more than mass murderers.