← Back to Concept Index
psychological-toll
The emotional and mental strain experienced by Soldiers due to the chaotic and fast-paced nature of their missions.
1 chapter across 1 book
The Big Time (1958)Fritz Leiber Jr.
Chapter 2 A RIGHT-HAND GLOVE
In this chapter, the characters discuss the complex and morally ambiguous nature of the Change War, a conflict involving time travel and competing factions called the Spiders and the Snakes. Bruce Marchant, a new Soldier and poet, expresses frustration with the inefficiencies and ethical compromises of their missions, particularly the manipulation of history by the Spiders. The dialogue reveals the psychological toll on participants and the paradoxical resilience of cultures despite repeated historical alterations.