Rosewater was twice as smart as Billy, but he and Billy were dealing with similar crises in similar ways. They had both found life meaningless, partly because of what they had seen in war. Rosewater, for instance, had shot a fourteen-year-old fireman, mistaking for a German soldier. So it goes. And Billy had seen the greatest massacre in European history, which was the fire-bombing of Dresden. So it goes. So they were trying to re-invent themselves and their universe. Science fiction was a big help.
The excerpt vividly captures the profound impact that war can have on the human psyche, illustrating how trauma can strip life of its inherent meaning. Both Rosewater and Billy, despite differences in intellect or background, grapple with similar feelings of despair, highlighting a universal human experience following catastrophic events. Rosewater's tragic mistake of shooting a young fireman underscores the tragic confusion and moral challenges posed by war, where distinctions between friend and foe become blurred. Billy's witness of the Dresden firebombing underscores the horrors inflicted upon civilians in war, emblematic of the worst atrocities committed during conflict. The phrase "so it goes" recurs as a somber acceptance of death and tragedy as inevitable facets of life, emphasizing a stoic resignation that might serve as a form of psychological survival. Their shared endeavor to reinvent themselves through science fiction illustrates how storytelling and imagination provide a refuge and a tool for processing trauma. Science fiction becomes a lens through which they attempt to interpret and find meaning in chaos, projecting hope and resilience amid despair. This quote reflects on the existential aftermath of war, portraying how individuals can seek redemption, understanding, and purpose through creativity and acceptance. It underscores that, despite the devastating scars of violence, there remains a necessary pursuit to forge forward, re-construct identity, and glimpse the possibility of hope beyond destruction.
